Honestly, if you haven’t heard the name Veerle Tooske Janna Roos Buurman yet, you’re about to. Most people just call her Veerle Buurman, but that full name—a rhythmic, almost regal Dutch mouthful—is starting to pop up on team sheets across the highest levels of women's football. At just 19 years old, she’s not just "one for the future." She’s very much the present.
Born in Bemmel back in April 2006, Veerle didn't just stumble into the sport. She grew up in a house where football was basically the default setting. With an older brother and a younger brother both playing, she was effectively forged in the fires of backyard competition. You can see that grit in how she plays today. She’s a 5'8" (1.73m) left-footed center-back who reads the game like she’s been playing it for forty years.
The Meteoric Rise from PSV to London
It’s kinda wild how fast things moved for her. She started out at SC Bemmel, playing with the boys—often referred to as "one of the Bemmel guys"—which is where that physical edge comes from. By 2022, she was in the PSV Eindhoven academy.
The breakthrough was practically overnight. One minute she’s playing for Jong PSV, the next she’s scoring a 122nd-minute header in the Eredivisie Cup final to sink Ajax. That goal didn't just win a trophy; it announced her as a big-game player. It’s no wonder she was named the Johan Cruyff Talent of the Year in 2025.
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Chelsea saw enough. In September 2024, they secured her signature in what was described as a record transfer for a Dutch player leaving the Eredivisie. They were smart about it, though. They loaned her back to PSV for the 2024-25 season so she could get those vital minutes. Now, in 2026, she’s officially a part of the Women’s Super League (WSL) grind, competing for minutes alongside legends like Millie Bright.
What Makes Veerle Tooske Janna Roos Buurman Different?
Most young defenders are jittery. They rely on pace to bail them out of bad positioning. Veerle is the opposite. She’s a "brain" player. Because she's left-footed, she opens up passing lanes that most teams struggle to find.
- Composure: She rarely looks panicked, even when a striker is breathing down her neck.
- The Long Ball: Her ability to ping a 40-yard diagonal pass is basically a cheat code for transitioning from defense to attack.
- Aerial Threat: As she proved against Ajax, she’s a nightmare to mark during set pieces.
But it hasn't all been a cakewalk. Moving to London at 18 or 19 is a massive jump. The speed of the WSL is lightyears ahead of the Dutch league. She’s had to adapt to the physicality of the English game while carrying the weight of a "record transfer" tag.
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Breaking Into the Oranje Leeuwinnen
If you want to know how highly the Netherlands national team rates her, look at her debut. Andries Jonker didn't just give her a sympathy cap; he started her in a friendly against Denmark in October 2024. She looked like she belonged there from the first whistle.
Then came the match against the USA in December 2024. For a teenage defender to score her first international goal against the most dominant force in women's football? That’s the stuff of movies. She’s now a lock for the national squad as they look toward major tournaments in 2027 and beyond.
The Business Side: For Feather Four Ltd
Interestingly, her name doesn't just appear on sports blogs. If you dig into UK company filings, you’ll find Veerle Tooske Janna Roos Buurman listed as a director for a company called "For Feather Four Limited." It was incorporated in late 2025. While many athletes leave their finances to a faceless agency, this suggests a level of personal involvement in her brand and future that you don't always see in players her age.
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What to Expect Next
The hype is real, but the work is just beginning. Chelsea is a shark tank. You don’t get minutes just because you’re talented; you get them because you’re consistent.
Keep an eye on her Champions League performances this year. She’s already seen action against teams like Wolfsburg and Roma, holding her own in high-pressure environments. For fans of the Netherlands, she is the natural successor to the aging guard in the Dutch defense.
If you're a scout or just a fan of the game, watch her positioning. Most kids watch the ball; Veerle watches the space. That’s why she’s going to be a household name—even if most people struggle to say her full name on the first try.
Actionable Insights for Following Her Career:
- Watch the WSL: Follow Chelsea Women's matches specifically to see how she handles "heavy" strikers.
- Scout the Left Foot: Notice how often she initiates attacks. If she's on the pitch, the play usually goes through her.
- Check the Oranje Schedule: The Netherlands are rebuilding, and she is the cornerstone of that new defense. Expect her to be a starter in the next European Championship cycles.
There's no "ultimate" endpoint here. She's 19. The story is being written in real-time. But if the last two years are any indication, Veerle Tooske Janna Roos Buurman is going to be the gold standard for modern defenders for the next decade.