Jackie Noëlle Groenen is a Dutch professional footballer renowned for her vision, versatility, and relentless work rate in midfield. She plays as a midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France’s Division 1 Féminine and is a key player for the Netherlands national team.
Early Life and Background
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Date of Birth: 17 December 1994
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Place of Birth: Poppel, Belgium (grew up in Belgium, born in Tilburg, Netherlands)
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Height: 1.65 m
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Position: Midfielder
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Nationality: Dutch (also holds Belgian citizenship)
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Background: Former judoka, studied law at Tilburg University, inspired by Johan Cruyff
Club Career
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Youth Clubs: GSBW, VV Riel, Wilhelmina Boys, SV Rood-Wit Veldhoven
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Professional Clubs:
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SGS Essen (2011)
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FCR 2001 Duisburg (2011–2014)
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Chelsea (2014–2015)
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FFC Frankfurt (2015–2019)
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Manchester United (2019–2022)
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Paris Saint-Germain (2022–present; 49 appearances, 4 goals as of April 2025)
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Groenen has played across top leagues in Germany, England, and France. She became Manchester United’s first overseas signing and, in 2022, transferred to PSG, becoming the most expensive Dutch female footballer ever4. In 2025, she extended her PSG contract through 2027, expressing her happiness and sense of belonging in Paris.
International Career
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Netherlands National Team (2016–present):
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122 caps, 10 goals (as of April 2025)1
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Debuted in January 2016
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Key player in the Netherlands’ UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 victory, playing every match and being named in the Team of the Tournament
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Scored the decisive goal in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final, sending the Netherlands to their first-ever final
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Part of the Netherlands squads for the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cups, and the 2018 Algarve Cup-winning team.
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Playing Style
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Strengths: Versatility, tactical intelligence, stamina, technical skill, and ability to play multiple midfield roles (defensive, box-to-box, or advanced).
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Style: Combines defensive tenacity with creative playmaking, known for her passing range, vision, and relentless energy.
Honours & Achievements
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Club:
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DFB-Pokal runner-up (Frankfurt)
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FA WSL Cup runner-up (Chelsea)
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Division 1 Féminine runner-up (PSG)
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International:
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UEFA Women’s Euro: Winner (2017)
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FIFA Women’s World Cup: Runner-up (2019)
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Algarve Cup: Winner (2018)
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Individual:
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UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (2017)
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Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau (2017, with the Dutch national team)1
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FAQs About Jackie Groenen
What position does Jackie Groenen play?
Midfielder (central, defensive, or box-to-box).
Which number does she wear for PSG?
14.
How old is Jackie Groenen?
30 (born December 17, 1994).
What are her main achievements?
UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 winner, World Cup finalist, over 120 Netherlands caps, and PSG regular.
What is her playing style?
Versatile, technically skilled, high work rate, and excels in both defensive and creative midfield roles.
Conclusion
Jackie Groenen’s journey from youth football in the Netherlands and Belgium to starring for top European clubs and the Dutch national team highlights her as one of the game’s most complete and influential midfielders. Her intelligence, skill, and leadership continue to make her indispensable for both PSG and the Netherlands
