Who is Justin Bijlow? The Feyenoord goalkeeper wanted by Arsenal & Liverpool

Tom Weber

Updated: 29 May 2024 15:37 CDT
5 min read

Justin Bijlow, Feyenoord, Netherlands — © IMAGO

Justin Bijlow is one of the Netherlands' most reliable goalkeepers.

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The Dutchman's rise to the top has been anything but linear or easy, but persistence has paid off, with the shot-stopper included in his country's Euro 2024 squad.

Injuries have often hamstrung the 26-year-old, yet when fit, the Feyenoord number one can compete with the best of them. This summer, he could be on the move to a bigger club.

So, who is Justin Bijlow and how good is he really?

What position does Bijlow play in?

Bijlow is a goalkeeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet.

How good is Bijlow?

Born in Rotterdam, Justin Bijlow is Feyenoord through and through. Speaking to club media as a 17-year-old in 2015, Bijlow said: "I'm going [to Feyenoord games] with my father and brother Joël, my mother and sister Jaimy are also crazy about Feyenoord." Initially an outfield player, Bijlow once offered to play in goal at the youth level and turned out to be pretty good.

In August 2017, the Dutchman made his senior debut for Feyenoord and he became the club's first-choice goalkeeper the following season until an injury sidelined him and led to him losing his place, which has since become a bit of a sad theme throughout his career. Indeed, injury problems seem to run in the family with the aforementioned brother Joël having to retire from professional football due to persistent ACL issues.

Bijlow would only win back his place in January 2020, but injuries would continue to plague him. Despite this, it increasingly proved a struggle for Feyenoord's other options between the sticks to dislodge the 26-year-old. By the end of the 2021/22 season, Bijlow's standing in the team had grown to the point that he was handed the captaincy by Arne Slot for Feyenoord's first European final in 20 years when they lost 1-0 to Jose Mourinho's Roma in the inaugural Conference League showpiece.

Confident with the ball at his feet and a reliable shot-stopper, Bijlow was Feyenoord's undisputed number one for the 22/23 Eredivisie campaign in which Slot led the Rotterdammers to their first league title since 2017. The following season proved much more difficult as several injuries and the good form of deputy Timon Wellenreuther saw Bijlow miss out on a good chunk of Feyenoord's games, including the successful KNVB Cup final against Nijmegen in April 2024.

Bijlow's impressive performances have seen transfer interest increase significantly in recent times. The Dutchman has also been rewarded with a call-up for the Netherlands for Euro 2024 in Germany. At the time of writing, the goalkeeper has featured eight times for his country after making his first-team bow in 2021, though he was already under consideration for a spot in the side as early as 2018.

Steun voor Justin Bijlow in de 12e minuut van #feyaz. pic.twitter.com/TBME881eCs
— Jan Dirk Stouten (@JanDirkStouten) February 7, 2024

What clubs are interested in Bijlow?

Arsenal and Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Bijlow in recent times, with the former seeking a replacement for Aaron Ramsdale and the latter, now coached by ex-Feyenoord boss Arne Slot, bracing themselves for Saudi interest in Alisson. In the summer of 2023, Man Utd were also linked with a move for Bijlow.

Addressing the links with Arsenal and Liverpool, Bijlow said: "They are two very nice clubs. Of course, it’s always nice to be mentioned among big clubs. I’m just saying that I’m ambitious. As long as I play for Feyenoord I will give everything for them."