Cyriel Dessers

Cyriel Dessers of Panathinaikos was born in Leuven, Belgium on 8 December 1994 (age 31).

Cyriel Dessers, born on 8 December 1994 (age 31), is a Nigerian striker now with Panathinaikos. His clearest early statement came at NAC Breda in 2016-17, when he scored 22 league goals in 36 appearances – still the most productive league season of his career.

His time in Scotland put him more directly on the Celtic radar, albeit in blue. Dessers was part of a Rangers side that won the League Cup, and in 2025-26 he made three league appearances for them before moving on to Panathinaikos.

In Greece, he has started to add to his league record again, with five appearances and two goals for Panathinaikos in 2025-26. He has also remained involved with Nigeria, making two appearances in African World Cup qualifying this season.

Dessers’ career has been shaped by spells across different leagues, with a peak scoring year in the Netherlands, a trophy in Scotland, and his current role as a striker in Athens.

📈 Key stats and insights

Cyriel Dessers scored two goals in five Super League appearances for Panathinaikos in 2025-26

Cyriel Dessers made three league appearances for Rangers in 2025-26 before joining Panathinaikos

Cyriel Dessers scored 18 goals for Rangers in 2024-25

Cyriel Dessers scored 16 goals for Rangers in 2023-24

Cyriel Dessers joined Panathinaikos from Rangers for €4m

Last updated 24 July 2026. Send feedback

Cyriel Dessers stats

Check out all of the statistics about Cyriel Dessers.

Striker
Primary Position: Forward
Position

Cyriel Dessers

ST

1.85m (6ft)
Height: 33
Squad Number: 80kg (12st 8lb)
Weight: 8 December 1994 (age 31)
Date of Birth: Leuven
Birthplace: Belgium 🇧🇪
Country of Birth: Panathinaikos
Team: Nigeria 🇳🇬
National Team

📊 Season stats

Team: Panathinaikos
Super League 2025 - 2026
Games: 5
Starting: 2
Substitute: 3
Unused: 27
Utilisation: 16%
Goals: 2
Yellows: 2
Reds: -

Team: Nigeria 🇳🇬
World Cup Qualifiers Africa 2024 - 2026
Games: 2
Starting: 1
Substitute: 1
Unused: 10
Utilisation: 17%
Goals: -
Yellows: -
Reds: -

Team: Panathinaikos
Europa League 2025 - 2026
Games: 1
Starting: -
Substitute: 1
Unused: 11
Utilisation: 8%
Goals: -
Yellows: -
Reds: -

Cyriel Dessers, a 31-year-old striker, is at Panathinaikos after a mid-season move from Rangers. In 2025-26, he made five Super League appearances and scored two goals for Panathinaikos after recording three league appearances for Rangers, leaving his season split between a reduced role in Glasgow and a more productive start in Greece.

📋 Career stats

Team: Panathinaikos
Season 2026 - 2027
Country: Greece 🇬🇷
Games: -
Goals: -

Team: Panathinaikos
Season 2025 - 2026
Country: Greece 🇬🇷
Games: 5
Goals: 2

Team: Rangers
Season 2025 - 2026
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 3
Goals: -

Team: Rangers
Season 2024 - 2025
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 35
Goals: 18

Team: Rangers
Season 2023 - 2024
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 35
Goals: 16

Team: Cremonese
Season 2022 - 2023
Country: Italy 🇮🇹
Games: 26
Goals: 6

Team: Genk
Season 2022 - 2023
Country: Belgium 🇧🇪
Games: 3
Goals: 3

Team: Feyenoord
Season 2021 - 2022
Country: Netherlands 🇳🇱
Games: 27
Goals: 9

Team: Genk
Season 2021 - 2022
Country: Belgium 🇧🇪
Games: 3
Goals: -

Team: Genk
Season 2020 - 2021
Country: Belgium 🇧🇪
Games: 28
Goals: 4

Team: Heracles Almelo
Season 2019 - 2020
Country: Netherlands 🇳🇱
Games: 26
Goals: 15

Team: FC Utrecht
Season 2018 - 2019
Country: Netherlands 🇳🇱
Games: 11
Goals: 3

Team: FC Utrecht
Season 2017 - 2018
Country: Netherlands 🇳🇱
Games: 29
Goals: 9

Team: NAC Breda
Season 2016 - 2017
Country: Netherlands 🇳🇱
Games: 36
Goals: 22

Team: KSC Lokeren
Season 2015 - 2016
Country: Belgium 🇧🇪
Games: 10
Goals: -

Team: KSC Lokeren
Season 2014 - 2015
Country: Belgium 🇧🇪
Games: 15
Goals: -

Team: Oud-Heverlee Leuven
Season 2013 - 2014
Country: Belgium 🇧🇪
Games: 1
Goals: -

Dessers’ recent career has been defined by regular movement across established European clubs. He went from Genk to Feyenoord on loan, returned to Genk, moved to Cremonese, then joined Rangers before signing for Panathinaikos. His Rangers spell was his most productive recent run, with 16 goals in 2023-24 and 18 in 2024-25.

💰 Transfers

Team: Panathinaikos
1 September 2025
From: Rangers
Type: Fee (£4m)

Team: Rangers
6 July 2023
From: Cremonese
Type: Fee (£4.5m)

Team: Cremonese
10 August 2022
From: Genk
Type: Fee (£5.9m)

Team: Genk
1 June 2022
From: Feyenoord
Type: Returned from loan

Team: Feyenoord
31 August 2021
From: Genk
Type: Loan

Team: Genk
1 July 2020
From: Heracles Almelo
Type: Fee (£3.6m)

Team: Heracles Almelo
8 July 2019
From: FC Utrecht
Type: Undisclosed

Team: FC Utrecht
1 July 2017
From: NAC Breda
Type: Fee (£300k)

Team: NAC Breda
7 July 2016
From: KSC Lokeren
Type: Free Transfer

Team: KSC Lokeren
1 July 2014
From: Oud-Heverlee Leuven
Type: Free Transfer

Team: Oud-Heverlee Leuven
1 January 2014
Type: Signed

The transfer history points to a striker who has retained value but moved for gradually lower fees. Genk loaned him to Feyenoord in 2021, Cremonese then paid €5.9m in 2022, Rangers paid €4.5m in 2023, and Panathinaikos paid €4m in 2025. The pattern suggests a proven forward whose market has stabilised rather than collapsed.

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