Emma Pijnenburg
New Zealand footballer (born 2004)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Emma Sheela Pijnenburg (born 13 September 2004) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or full-back for A-League club Wellington Phoenix and the New Zealand national team.
|
Pijnenburg playing for Wellington Phoenix in 2026. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Emma Sheela Pijnenburg[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 13 September 2004[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||
| Position | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Wellington Phoenix[2] | ||
| Number | 32 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2023 | Western Springs AFC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2025 | Feyenoord[3] | 30 | (1) |
| 2025– | Wellington Phoenix[2] | 10 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022–2024 | New Zealand U-20[4] | 3 | (0) |
| 2025– | New Zealand[5] | 7 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14 March 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 2 December 2025 | |||
Youth career
Pijnenburg played for local Auckland club Western Springs, starting from the age of six.[6] As well as playing for Western Springs, in her youth Pijnenburg was also selected for the Auckland Football Federation women's team,[6] and the Football Ferns training squad.[6]
Club career
Feyenoord
In the European winter break of 2023, Pijnenburg was signed by Dutch club Feyenoord.[7] The midfielder was signed on a two year contract, and made her debut for the club on 17 February 2024.[8]
Wellington Phoenix
On 29 December 2025, it was announced that Pijnenburg would be joining the Wellington Phoenix with immediate effect. She was signed on a contract that would see her stay with the club for the remainder of the 2025–26 A-League Women season. As she does for the Football Ferns, Pijnenburg wears the number 32 shirt.[9] Pijnenburg was immediately added into the wider squad ahead of the Phoenix's next match against Western Sydney Wanderers on 30 December 2025.[10] In that match, Pijnenburg made her debut for new club, coming on as a substitute for CJ Bott in the 53rd minute. The match ended in a 3–0 victory for the Phoenix.[11]
On 1 February 2026, Pijnenburg scored her first goal for the Phoenix. She scored the third goal in a 5–1 victory over Newcastle Jets.[12]
International career
Pijnenburg was selected for the New Zealand U-20 side in 2024 as part of the side that would play at the 2024 FIFA Women's U-20 Women's World Cup held in Colombia.[4]
On 3 February 2025, Pijnenburg was selected in the Football Ferns squad for the first time in her career ahead of a two match series against Costa Rica.[5] Pijnenburg made her debut in the second match of the series played on the 25th of February, coming on as a substitite for Grace Neville in the 80th minute. Pijnenburg wears the number 32 shirt for the Football Ferns.[13]
