Zinho Vanheusden
Belgian footballer
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Zinho Vanheusden (born 29 July 1999) is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 29 July 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Hasselt, Belgium | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2015 | Standard Liège | ||
| 2015–2018 | Inter Milan | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2019 | Inter Milan | 0 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | → Standard Liège (loan) | 27 | (2) |
| 2019–2021 | Standard Liège | 28 | (1) |
| 2021–2025 | Inter Milan | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | → Genoa (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | → AZ (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Standard Liège (loan) | 21 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → KV Mechelen (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2025 | Marbella | 7 | (0) |
| Total | 106 | (3) | |
| International career | |||
| 2014–2015 | Belgium U16 | 11 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | Belgium U17 | 14 | (6) |
| 2016–2017 | Belgium U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2017 | Belgium U19 | 2 | (0) |
| 2017–2020 | Belgium U21 | 11 | (2) |
| 2020 | Belgium | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Inter Milan
In mid-2015, Vanheusden joined Inter Milan's youth academy[1] after seven seasons in the Standard Liège youth system. He was promoted to the first team in the last few matches of 2016–17 Serie A;[2] he also appeared as an unused bench for a few matches at the start of 2017–18 Serie A.[3][4][5][6] He also played for the under-19 team as the starting defender, winning 2016–17 Campionato Nazionale Primavera.[7] On 27 September 2017, Vanheusden injured his cruciate ligament in a UEFA Youth League match against Dynamo Kyiv,[8] which kept him out of action for four months.[9] On 26 January 2018, Vanheusden extended his contract with Inter until June 2022.[10]
Loan to Standard Liège
On 30 January 2018, Vanheusden joined Standard Liège until 30 June 2018, with an option to extend for one more year.[11] Vanheusden made his professional debut in a 1–0 Belgian First Division A playoff win over Gent on 14 April 2018.[12]
Standard Liège
On 28 June 2019, Standard Liège signed Vanheusden in a permanent deal for a reported €12.5 million fee, which surpassed Nicolae Stanciu's record as the most expensive purchase by a Belgium club.[13][14]
Return to Inter Milan
On 13 July 2021, he returned to Inter Milan.[15]
Loan to Genoa
On 20 July, he was sent on loan to Genoa.[16] He made his Serie A debut on 21 August against Inter away, at the Giuseppe Meazza in a 4–0 loss to his team.[17]
Loan to AZ
On 25 July 2022, Vanheusden was loaned by AZ in the Netherlands, with an option to buy.[18]
Loan to Standard Liège
On 8 July 2023, he returned to Standard Liège for the upcoming season.[19]
Loan to KV Mechelen
On 25 July 2024, he joined KV Mechelen for a season-long loan, with an option to buy.[20]
Marbella
On 7 August 2025, Vanheusden joined Spanish side Marbella, signing a one-year contract.[21]
On 21 November 2025, Vanheusden announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 26, due to recurring injuries.[22]
International career
Vanheusden debuted with the Belgium national team in a 1–1 friendly draw with Ivory Coast on 8 October 2020.[23]
Personal life
Vanheusden is named after the Brazilian footballer, Zinho after his performance at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.[24]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 24 November 2024[25]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Standard Liège (loan) | 2017–18 | Belgian Pro League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | – | 30 | 2 | |||
| Standard Liège | 2019–20 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5[a] | 1 | – | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
| Total | 55 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 76 | 4 | ||
| Genoa (loan) | 2021–22 | Serie A | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 16 | 0 | ||
| AZ (loan) | 2022–23 | Eredivisie | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | – | 8 | 0 | |
| Standard Liège (loan) | 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 1[b] | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| KV Mechelen (loan) | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 99 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 127 | 4 | ||
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in Belgian Pro League European play-offs
- Appearance in UEFA Europa Conference League