Ruud Nijstad

Ruud Nijstad

Nijstad in 2026 with FC Twente
Personal information
Date of birth	(2008-01-17) 17 January 2008 (age 18)
Place of birth	Almelo, Netherlands
Position	Defender
Team information
Current team	FC Twente
Number	43
Youth career
	DETO
	FC Twente
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2025–	FC Twente	27	(2)
International career‡
2023-2024	Netherlands U16	9	(0)
2024–2025	Netherlands U17	9	(0)
2025–	Netherlands U18	6	(1)
2026–	Netherlands U19	2	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:30, 20 September 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 19:33, 28 March 2026 (UTC)

Ruud Nijstad (born 17 January 2008) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Eredivisie club FC Twente.

Born in Almelo, Nijstad played as a youngster for amateur club DETO and later trained in the joint youth academy of FC Twente and Heracles Almelo. He signed a three-year professional contract with FC Twente in February 2024.

He made his professional debut for FC Twente in the Eredivisie on 5 October 2025, at the age of 17, appearing as a substitute in the eighth minute for Robin Pröpper against Heracles, in a 2–1 victory for his side.

Nijstad is a youth international for the Netherlands, having made his debut for the Netherlands U16 in October 2023.

As of match played 20 September 2026