Hans Vanaken, born on 24 August 1992 (age 34), is a Belgian central attacking midfielder whose career has been shaped overwhelmingly by Club Brugge. Wearing the number 20, he has been a long-serving presence in Bruges, with 334 league appearances and 91 league goals across 12 seasons.
His value has not just been in durability. Vanaken has consistently supplied more goals than the usual midfielder of his type, with his most productive league campaign coming in 2019–20, when he scored 13 times in 29 appearances for Club Brugge. That level of return explains why his role has carried more weight than a neat positional label suggests.
He remains part of the first-team picture in 2026–27. For Club Brugge this season, he has made 29 appearances in all competitions and scored five goals, including one in seven league appearances. He has also remained involved with Belgium, featuring in World Cup, European qualifying and Nations League matches.
His current market value is around £6m, according to Transfermarkt. Vanaken’s career is a straightforward one in shape: a Belgian international midfielder, still relevant in his mid-thirties, with his best and longest work done at Club Brugge.
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