*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:10, 27 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:13, 14 October 2024 (UTC)
Born in Schiedam to a Nigerian mother and a Dutch father, Zirkzee began his footballing career as a five-year-old with VV Hekelingen after the family had moved to Spijkenisse.[11] After impressing early on, he moved to the youth department of Spartaan '20 in 2010,[11] where he played alongside his cousin, Nelson Amadin.[12] He then left for ADO Den Haag in 2013, before ending up in the Feyenoord youth academy in 2016.[13] One year later, Zirkzee left the Feyenoord academy in his native Netherlands to join the youth setup of Bayern Munich.[14]
Bayern Munich
On 1 March 2019, Zirkzee scored a hat-trick in his debut for Bayern Munich II.[14] Just a day later, he scored the winning goal for the under-19 side as they defeated 1. FC Nürnberg 2–1.[14] Zirkzee made his professional debut in the 3. Liga for Bayern Munich II on 20 July 2019, coming on as a substitute in the 74th minute for Oliver Batista Meier in the away match against Würzburger Kickers.[15]
On 11 December 2019, Zirkzee made his debut for the senior team against Tottenham Hotspur in the final group stage match of the Champions League.[16] He subsequently made his Bundesliga debut on 18 December, coming on as a substitute in the 90th minute in a match against Freiburg tied at 1–1; he scored the winner almost immediately after entering the game. Shortly after, Serge Gnabry added another stoppage-time goal to secure a 3–1 victory.[17] Two days later, he again came off the bench in the final minutes of the game and scored the winning goal as Bayern defeated Wolfsburg.[18] On 13 June 2020, Zirkzee scored the opening goal in Bayern Munich's 2–1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach.[19] He finished off his debut season with a continental treble.
Loan to Parma
On 31 January 2021, Zirkzee moved to Italian club Parma on a loan deal.[20] The deal included an option to buy.[20] On 2 April 2021, he suffered an LCL injury,[21] and his loan was limited to four appearances, all as a substitute.
Loan to Anderlecht
On 3 August 2021, Anderlecht announced the signing of Zirkzee on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich.[22] He finished the 2021–22 season as the club's top scorer with 16 goals, in addition to providing nine assists in 34 league starts.[23]
Bologna
On 30 August 2022, Zirkzee transferred to Serie A club Bologna on a permanent deal.[24] Later that year, on 16 October, he scored his first goal at the club, by netting the opener in a 3–2 defeat against Napoli.[25] In his second season under coach Thiago Motta, he managed to score eight goals in 16 games in the first half of the 2023–24 campaign, attracting transfer interest from several top European clubs with his former club Bayern Munich still having a 40% cut of any possible transfer fee.[26] He ultimately finished the season as Bologna's top scorer, netting 11 goals and providing five assists,[27] helping his club secure a berth in the Champions League group stage.[28]
Manchester United
On 14 July 2024, Premier League club Manchester United announced the signing of Zirkzee on a five-year contract for a fee of £35.5m.[29] He made his debut as a substitute in the season's opening fixture against Fulham on 16 August, where he scored the match's only goal.[30][31] He made his first start for United in a 3–0 defeat to rivalsLiverpool at Old Trafford on 1 September.[32]
International career
Born in the Netherlands to a Dutch father and a Nigerian mother,[33][34] Zirkzee was a youth international for the Netherlands.[35]
Zirkzee is a versatile forward. His height and strength enable him to be dominant in the air as well as play with his back to goal and hold up the ball. Despite his tall frame, he has excellent technique and dribbling abilities which also allow him to drop deeper into a more traditional playmaker position.[38]
^ abvan Trigt, Jorrit (2 October 2020). "'Bij Feyenoord beter dan zijn leeftijdsgenoten'". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch).
^Gouka, Mikos (11 March 2020). "Van A tot Zirkzee: zien we deze nieuwkomer in Koemans voorselectie?". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Rotterdam. Retrieved 20 October 2020. Via zijn neef Nelson Amadin, die nu bij FC Dordrecht speelt, belandde Zirkzee ooit bij Spartaan '20. Daar, na drie jaar, waren de scouts van ADO de eersten die hem rijp vonden voor betaald voetbal.
^"Joshua Zirkzee opgeroepen voor EK" [Joshua Zirkzee called up for EC] (in Dutch). Royal Dutch Football Association. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
