Bert Esselink
Dundee United

Bert Esselink

Bert Esselink of Dundee United was born in Arnhem, Netherlands on 16 August 1999 (age 26).

Bert Esselink, born on 16 August 1999 (age 26), is a Dutch central defender with Dundee United. A tall, physically dominant defender at 6ft 3in (1.91m), he wears squad number three and is valued at around £298,000 by Transfermarkt.

His career is shaped chiefly by his spell at Stal Mielec. Across two seasons in Poland, Esselink made 54 league appearances and scored two league goals, with the 2023–24 campaign his most productive: 26 league games and two goals. It is the period that gives his career its weight so far, rather than a passing line on the CV.

At Dundee United in 2025–26, he has remained a regular part of the side. He has made 21 league appearances, scoring one league goal, along with one League Cup outing and four in Conference League qualifying. Across all competitions for the club, he has 26 appearances and one goal.

Esselink’s career to this point is a practical one: established at Stal Mielec, then carried into regular first-team football with Dundee United.

📈 Key stats and insights

Bert Esselink has made 21 Premiership appearances this season
Bert Esselink has started 19 of Dundee United’s 21 league matches listed
Bert Esselink has played 26 times in all competitions in 2025-2026
Bert Esselink has one Premiership goal from central defence
Bert Esselink has four yellow cards and no reds in the league
Last updated 24 May 2026. Send feedback

Bert Esselink stats

Check out all of the statistics about Bert Esselink.

Central Defender
Primary Position
Defender
Position
Bert Esselink
CD
1.91m (6ft 3in)
Height
3
Squad Number
78kg (12st 3lb)
Weight
16 August 1999 (age 26)
Date of Birth
Arnhem
Birthplace
Netherlands 🇳🇱
Country of Birth
Dundee United
Team
£298,000 (via Transfermarkt)
Market Value

📊 Season stats

Team
Dundee United
Dundee United
Premiership 2025 - 2026
Games
21
Starting
19
Substitute
2
Unused
17
Utilisation
55%
Goals
1
Yellows
4
Reds
-
Team
Dundee United
Dundee United
Conference League Qualifiers 2025 - 2026
Games
4
Starting
4
Substitute
-
Unused
-
Utilisation
100%
Goals
-
Yellows
-
Reds
-

Bert Esselink has been used as a first-choice central defender for Dundee United in the 2025-2026 Premiership, making 21 league appearances with 19 starts. One goal is a secondary contribution, but the workload is the key point – he has also played once in the League Cup and four times in Conference League qualifying, taking him to 26 appearances in all competitions. Four yellow cards and no reds suggest a regular defensive role without major disciplinary cost.

📋 Career stats

Team
Dundee United
Dundee United
Season 2025 - 2026
Country
Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games
21
Goals
1
Team
Stal Mielec
Stal Mielec
Season 2024 - 2025
Country
Poland 🇵🇱
Games
28
Goals
-
Team
Stal Mielec
Stal Mielec
Season 2023 - 2024
Country
Poland 🇵🇱
Games
26
Goals
2

Esselink’s known senior path covers APOEL, Stal Mielec and Dundee United, with the 26-year-old now established in Scotland after a spell in Poland. The available career data is limited, but his current usage points to a player who has moved from being a squad profile across different leagues into a regular Premiership starter.

💰 Transfers

Team
Dundee United
Dundee United
1 July 2025
From
Stal Mielec
Stal Mielec
Type
Free Transfer
Team
Stal Mielec
Stal Mielec
3 July 2023
From
APOEL
APOEL
Type
Undisclosed

The transfer record shows APOEL moving Esselink to Stal Mielec for an undisclosed fee in 2023, before Dundee United picked him up on a free transfer in July 2025. That free deal looks efficient on the available evidence, given he has quickly become a regular league starter and carries a listed market value of €350k.

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