Nigel Robertha (born 13 February 1998) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for AEL Limassol. He has represented the Netherlands at the under-17 and under-18 levels.

Nigel Robertha
Robertha with Levski Sofia
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-02-13) 13 February 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Dordrecht, Netherlands
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
AEL Limassol
Number 9
Youth career
0000–2009 EBOH
2009–2016 Feyenoord
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Feyenoord 1 (0)
2017–2019 SC Cambuur 42 (12)
2019–2021 Levski Sofia 38 (17)
2021–2023 D.C. United 45 (6)
2024 Ittihad Kalba 2 (0)
2024- AEL Limassol 6 (1)
International career
2013 Netherlands U15 2 (0)
2013–2014 Netherlands U16 5 (2)
2014–2016 Netherlands U17 12 (1)
2015–2016 Netherlands U18 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:05, 22 October 2024 (UTC)

Robertha began his career with Feyenoord, having joined them at the age of 11, but made just one appearance for the first team. In 2017 he joined Eerste Divisie side SC Cambuur. Two years later, he signed for Levski Sofia.

Club career

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Feyenoord

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Having progressed through the academy at Feyenoord, Robertha was handed his first professional contract with the club on 25 June 2015.[2][3] He made his senior debut on 1 May 2016, being brought on by manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the 71st minute to replace Anass Achahbar in a 1–0 Eredivisie win over Willem II.[4][5] At the end of the season he featured in Feyenoord's 10–0 win over VV Lyra in an exhibition match, scoring his first goal for the club.[6] On 8 July he was one of five youth players promoted to the senior squad permanently.[7] He failed to make an appearance for the senior side the following season, however, due in part to a hamstring tear he suffered during the course of the campaign.[8]

Cambuur

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On 5 July 2017, Robertha signed a two-year deal with Eerste Divisie side Cambuur as a free agent.[9][10] He made his debut for the club on 18 August, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 loss to Ajax II. The following month, he netted his first competitive goal when he scored in a 5–1 KNVB Cup win over Helmond Sport.[11] He scored his first league goals on 12 January 2018, netting a brace in a 3–2 win over De Graafschap.[12]

Levski Sofia

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On 24 July 2019, Robertha signed a three-year deal with Bulgarian First League side Levski Sofia.[13] On 3 March 2021, he scored his first hattrick for the club in a 3–1 win over Beroe in the Round of 16 of the Bulgarian Cup.[14]

D.C. United

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On 25 March 2021, Robertha moved to MLS side D.C. United on a deal until 2023, with a club option for a further year.[15] On 17 April 2021, Robertha made his debut in United's 2021 season opener against New York City, where his side won 2–1.[16] On 27 June, Robertha scored his first goal for his new club, netting the opener in an eventual 2–1 loss to New York City.[17]

International career

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Born in the Netherlands, Robertha is a youth international for the country. In June 2021, he was called up to the preliminary squad for the Curaçao national team for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[18]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 24 October 2024[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Feyenoord 2015–16 Eredivisie 1 0 0 0 1 0
2016–17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Cambuur 2017–18 Eerste Divisie 12 5 4 2 1[a] 0 17 7
2018–19 30 7 2 1 4[a] 1 36 9
Total 42 12 6 3 5 1 53 16
Levski Sofia 2019–20 First League 19 11 4 0 1 0 24 11
2020–21 19 6 2 3 21 9
Total 38 17 6 3 1 0 45 20
D.C. United 2021 MLS 18 4 18 4
2022 17 1 1 1 18 2
2023 10 1 1 0 11 1
Total 45 6 2 1 47 7
Kalba 2023–24 UAE Pro League 2 0 1 0 3 0
AEL Limassol 2024–25 Cypriot First Division 6 1 0 0 6 1
Career total 134 36 15 7 1 0 5 1 155 44
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Eredivisie play-offs

References

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  1. ^ "Nigel Robertha". D.C. United. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Feyenoord legt talent uit eigen kweek vast". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 25 June 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  3. ^ "First professional contract for striker Nigel Robertha". Feyenoord (in Dutch). 25 June 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Lucky Goal Helps Feyenoord". Telegraaf (in Dutch). 1 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  5. ^ Thompson, Andrew (10 April 2017). "The Academy Series - 10 best Feyenoord products: Rick Karsdorp, Van Bronckhorst, and Georginio Wijnaldum feature". Outside of the Boot. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Feyenoord eindigt seizoen met 10-0 zege op vv Lyra". Rijnmond (in Dutch). 18 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  7. ^ "'Van Bronckhorst schuift vijf talenten door naar eerste selectie'". Soccer News Netherlands (in Dutch). 8 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Robertha: De club en ik staan open voor verhuur'". FR12 (in Dutch). 26 May 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Cambuur pikt Robertha op bij Feyenoord". Fox Sports (in Dutch). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  10. ^ "TT: Hernández voor 24 miljoen van Atlético naar Real, Giroud 'top target' voor Koeman". AD (in Dutch). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Heracles heeft moeite met amateurs, Cambuur wint ruim tegen negen man". Goal (in Dutch). 19 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  12. ^ "NEC swingt bij debuut Lijnders, Cambuur klopt De Graafschap". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 12 January 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Найджъл Робърта подписа с "Левски". topsport.bg (in Bulgarian). 24 July 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Levski Sofia vs. Beroe 3–1". Soccerway. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  15. ^ "D.C. United Sign Forward Nigel Robertha from PFC Levski Sofia in Bulgaria". dcunited.com. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  16. ^ Anderson, Jason (17 April 2021). "D.C. United open 2021 by fighting their way past NYCFC in 2-1 win". Black and Red United. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Match Recap - #NYCvDC". 27 June 2021.
  18. ^ "2021 Concacaf Gold Cup preliminary rosters announced". CONCACAF. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Nigel Robertha Career Statistics". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
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