Eredivisie Awards

Sem Steijn wins the 2024/25 Willy van der Kuylen Trophy

18 May 2025

Sem Steijn has claimed the Willy van der Kuylen Trophy for the 2024/25 season. The FC Twente midfielder finished as the Eredivisie's top scorer with 24 goals. The 23-year-old from The Hague will receive the award on Monday, May 26, during the annual Eredivisie Awards ceremony.

Impressive Numbers

Steijn netted 24 goals in the Eredivisie this season — a rare feat for a midfielder. His scoring was evenly split, with 12 goals before and 12 after the winter break. He scored 18 with his right foot, 2 with his left, and 4 with his head.

Four teams — Almere City FC, Feyenoord, Go Ahead Eagles, and Willem II — saw Steijn score three times against them. He also bagged braces against FC Groningen, Fortuna Sittard, RKC Waalwijk, sc Heerenveen, and Sparta Rotterdam with two goals against them.

Joining elite company

Steijn is the first midfielder since Jari Litmanen in 1993/94 to score more than 20 Eredivisie goals in a single season. The former Ajax star had been the only midfielder ever to top the Eredivisie scoring charts, with 26 goals.

In addition, Steijn matches the feat of FC Twente legend Dick van Dijk, who in 1968/69 became — until now — the club’s only Eredivisie top scorer.

Award presentation during Eredivisie Awards

The Willy van der Kuylen Trophy will be presented during the Eredivisie Awards on Monday, May 26. Steijn is also among the five nominees for the Eredivisie Player of the Year. The event will be broadcast live on ESPN and YouTube at 8:30 p.m., hosted by Fresia Cousiño Arias and Milan van Dongen.

About the Trophy

Named after Willy van der Kuylen, the Eredivisie’s all-time leading goal scorer with 311 goals, the trophy is a replica of the iconic Skiete Willy statue that has stood outside PSV’s Philips Stadium since 2004.

Previous winners of the award include Georgios Giakoumakis (2021), Sébastien Haller (2022), Tasos Douvikas and Xavi Simons (2023), and Vangelis Pavlidis and Luuk de Jong (2024).