Born and raised in the Netherlands, Micky van de Ven has quickly become one of the most talked about defensive prospects in European football, and a compelling figure for memorabilia collectors on Walkouts. A versatile defender able to play at centre back or on the left, he combines pace, physicality and reading of the game with a steady rise through club and international ranks.
Van de Ven began his senior career with FC Volendam, where he made his first team debut against Jong PSV and established himself early as a leader. He became club captain during his first full season and featured regularly as Volendam pushed for promotion in the Dutch second tier. Those formative years laid the platform for a move to top level European football.
In 2021 van de Ven signed for VfL Wolfsburg, where he became a near ever present in the Bundesliga and recorded notable performances against the league's biggest sides. During his time in Germany he registered the highest top speed of any defender in the Bundesliga in that season, a mark that underlined his athletic profile and adaptability to faster, more physical competition.
On 8 August 2023 van de Ven joined Tottenham Hotspur on a six year deal. He made an immediate impression, starting on his Premier League debut on 13 August 2023 and scoring his first goal in English football on 7 October 2023 at Luton Town. Across the 2023-24 season he produced a string of headline performances, was voted Tottenham's Player of the Season on 10 May 2024, and recorded one of the Premier League's highest top speeds in that campaign.
In the following season van de Ven endured a mixed campaign affected by injury, yet he returned to make decisive contributions in Europe. He started the 2025 UEFA Europa League final and made a crucial goal line clearance to secure a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, helping Tottenham claim a first major trophy in 17 years and earning his first major honours at club level.
Internationally, van de Ven progressed through Netherlands youth sides and captained the under 21s at the Under 21 European Championship in 2023. He received his first senior call-up in August 2023 and made his full international debut on 13 October 2023 in a Euro 2024 qualifier against France. He scored his first senior international goal on 10 June 2025 in a World Cup qualification match against Malta.
For collectors, van de Ven represents a modern defender whose career milestones map neatly to authenticated memorabilia. Signed shirts and certified autographs tied to specific matches, such as his Premier League debut, Player of the Season award, or the Europa League final, offer clear provenance and narrative provenance that enhances display and catalogue value. Match involvement details, official club certification and photographic or video evidence are the kinds of provenance that matter most to discerning buyers of signed merchandise.
As his career continues, Micky van de Ven's combination of international recognition and European silverware gives collectors tangible reference points when sourcing authentic items. Walkouts remains a useful source for authenticated pieces connected to his key milestones, and his trajectory suggests signed shirts and autographs will remain sought after as part of any modern defensive memorabilia collection.
