Bert Esselink

Bert Esselink of Dundee United was born in Arnhem, Netherlands on 16 August 1999 (age 26).

Bert Esselink is a Dutch central defender, born on 16 August 1999 (age 26). A commanding 6ft 3in (1.91m) defender, he is listed as Dundee United’s number 3 and is valued at around £298,000 by Transfermarkt.

The main body of his career so far came with Stal Mielec in Poland. Across two seasons there, Esselink made 54 league appearances and scored twice, with his most productive campaign coming in 2023-2024, when both goals arrived in 26 league matches. That spell gives his career its clearest shape, rather than any passing stop elsewhere.

By 2026-2027 he was with Dundee United, where he had made one league appearance and two League Cup appearances. His career to this point is a straightforward one: a Dutch defender whose most substantial senior work came at Stal Mielec, before a move into Scottish football with United.

📈 Key stats and insights

Bert Esselink has made two League Cup appearances for Dundee United in 2026-27

Bert Esselink joined Dundee United on a free transfer from Stal Mielec

Bert Esselink moved from APOEL to Stal Mielec for an undisclosed fee in 2023

Bert Esselink carries a €350k market value

Bert Esselink scored two goals in 2023-24

Last updated 1 August 2026. Send feedback

Bert Esselink stats

Check out all of the statistics about Bert Esselink.

Central Defender
Primary Position: Defender
Position

Bert Esselink

CD

1.91m (6ft 3in)
Height: 3
Squad Number: 78kg (12st 3lb)
Weight: 16 August 1999 (age 26)
Date of Birth: Arnhem
Birthplace: Netherlands 🇳🇱
Country of Birth: Dundee United
Team: £298,000 (via Transfermarkt)
Market Value

📊 Season stats

Team: Dundee United
Premiership 2026 - 2027
Games: 1
Starting: 1
Substitute: -
Unused: -
Utilisation: 100%
Goals: -
Yellows: -
Reds: -

Team: Dundee United
League Cup 2026 - 2027
Games: 2
Starting: 2
Substitute: -
Unused: 2
Utilisation: 50%
Goals: -
Yellows: 1
Reds: -

Bert Esselink is a 26-year-old central defender for Dundee United, with the 2026-27 Premiership still in its pre-season phase. His early competitive involvement came through two League Cup appearances, a usage pattern that points more to rotation and cup minutes than a clearly defined league role.

📋 Career stats

Team: Dundee United
Season 2026 - 2027
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 1
Goals: -

Team: Dundee United
Season 2025 - 2026
Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Games: 21
Goals: 1

Team: Stal Mielec
Season 2024 - 2025
Country: Poland 🇵🇱
Games: 28
Goals: -

Team: Stal Mielec
Season 2023 - 2024
Country: Poland 🇵🇱
Games: 26
Goals: 2

Esselink is from the Netherlands and carries a €350k market value. His recent path has run through APOEL, Stal Mielec and Dundee United, with scoring entries of two goals in 2023-24 and one in 2025-26. For a central defender, that gives his profile a modest attacking note, but the broader trajectory is that of a mid-career player moving between clubs rather than settling into one long spell.

💰 Transfers

Team: Dundee United
1 July 2025
From: Stal Mielec
Type: Free Transfer

Team: Stal Mielec
3 July 2023
From: APOEL
Type: Undisclosed

Esselink joined Dundee United from Stal Mielec on a free transfer on 1 July 2025, two years after moving from APOEL to Stal Mielec for an undisclosed fee. The sequence points to pragmatic squad-building rather than a fee-driven climb, with Dundee United adding a defender at limited transfer cost.

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🔗 External links

Bert Esselink on Transfermarkt