Introduction
Lars Veldwijk (born 21 August 1991 in Uithoorn) is a Dutch-born South African professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Aalesunds FK on loan from KV Kortrijk.
Club career
Nottingham Forest
On 12 June 2014, Veldwijk signed for Nottingham Forest from Excelsior for a fee of £500,000 that could rise to £1 million depending on various clauses. He made his debut on 16 August 2014 against Bolton Wanderers at the Macron Stadium as a 92nd-minute substitute for fellow striker Matty Fryatt. Veldwijk made his first start for Forest on 26 August 2014 in a 2-0 win against Huddersfield Town in the second round of the League Cup. Veldwijk went on loan to PEC Zwolle for the 2015–16 season. Upon his return to Forest he scored his first and only goal for the club in a 2-1 EFL Cup win against Millwall on 23 August 2016.
Aalesunds FK
On 31 March 2017, Veldwijk signed for the Norwegian football club Aalesunds FK on loan, with an option to buy when the loan period is over.
International career
On 27 October 2016, Veldwijk received his first call-up for the South African national football team for their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Senegal. He is eligible for South African citizenship as his father was a native. Veldwijk debuted for South Africa in a friendly 1-1 tie with Mozambique on 15 November 2016.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| FC Volendam | 2010–11 | Eerste Divisie | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| FC Utrecht | 2011–12 | Eredivisie | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | Eredivisie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| FC Dordrecht (loan) | 2012–13 | Eerste Divisie | 31 | 14 | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 36 | 19 | |
| Excelsior | 2013–14 | Eerste Divisie | 38 | 30 | 3 | 1 | — | 4 | 4 | 45 | 35 | |
| Nottingham Forest | 2014–15 | Championship | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | ||
| Total | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 17 | 1 | |||
| PEC Zwolle (loan) | 2015–16 | Eredivisie | 33 | 14 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 36 | 14 | |
| Aalesund (loan) | 2017 | Eliteserien | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 124 | 59 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 141 | 69 | ||