Nacer Chadli


Nacer Chadli is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Monaco and the Belgium national team.
He began his career in the Eerste Divisie with AGOVV Apeldoorn, and in 2010, he was transferred to top-flight FC Twente, where he won the KNVB Cup in his first season. In 2013, Chadli joined Tottenham Hotspur, and three years later he signed for West Bromwich Albion for a club record £13 million.
Chadli played internationally for Morocco in 2010 as his father is of Moroccan descent, but switched allegiance to Belgium the following year. He has earned over 50 caps for Belgium and represented the nation at the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and 2018.

Club career

Apeldoorn

Chadli played his youth football at JS Thier-à-Liège, Standard Liège and MVV Maastricht.
In the summer of 2007, he was contracted by Dutch second division club AGOVV Apeldoorn, who scouted him at MVV's youth academy. Here he was considered an emerging talent. While Chadli was being tested by AGOVV, he went under the alias "Kaliffe", because technical manager Ted van Leeuwen was afraid other clubs would show their interest. Chadli scored his first goal in professional football for AGOVV in a match against FC Volendam.

Twente

In the summer of 2010, Chadli signed with FC Twente, and in the ensuing season became a first team player for the then reigning Eredivisie champions.
His first Eredivisie goal was the winning one away at title rivals PSV.
He made his European and Champions League debut in a 2–2 home draw against Internazionale on 14 September in the competition's group stage.
On 29 September, he scored his first Champions League goal away at Tottenham Hotspur, and on 2 November scored his second at Werder Bremen in a 0–2 away victory. He later scored again in the Champions League against Tottenham from a free-kick on 7 December, the goal securing a draw for Twente at home, 3–3.

Tottenham Hotspur

On 21 July 2013, Tottenham Hotspur agreed a deal with Twente to sign Chadli for a transfer fee of £7 million. The club confirmed that subject to agreement of personal terms and a medical, Chadli would join the Spurs squad for pre-season training in Hong Kong. On 23 July, the club confirmed that Chadli had joined the squad which was participating in training sessions prior to the club taking part in the 2013 Premier League Asia Trophy. Chadli finally agreed terms on 26 July and became an official Tottenham player, later making his Spurs debut in a 5–2 friendly defeat to AS Monaco on 3 August. He made his Premier League debut on 18 August, the first match of the 2013–14 season, against Crystal Palace in a 1–0 win, then scored his first Premier League goal on 12 February 2014, a 0–4 win away to Newcastle United.
On 24 August 2014, the second matchday of the 2014–15 season, Chadli scored twice as Tottenham defeated Queens Park Rangers 4–0 at home. This was the start of a run of good form for Chadli, who went on to score several goals, including one against Tottenham's North London rivals Arsenal. The run of form, however, was cut short by injury, and before he could return to form, tragedy struck his family after his father died. Chadli slowly returned to form, scoring two goals in two matches against Newcastle United and Southampton, respectively, in late April to take his season total to 12, ten in the Premier League. Chadli increased his tally to 11 Premier League goals by rounding the goalkeeper in a 2–0 victory against Hull City on 16 May 2015.

West Bromwich Albion

On 29 August 2016, West Bromwich Albion agreed a deal with Tottenham Hotspur to sign Chadli for a club-record transfer fee of £13 million. He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Bournemouth. Chadli scored twice and got two assists on his home debut, only his second league appearance for the club which ended as a 4–2 win over West Ham United.
In 2017–18, Chadli was troubled by recurring thigh injuries and made only three appearances by the end of April in a West Bromwich Albion side that was eventually relegated. Totalling five appearances, he scored once, a free kick in a 1–1 draw at Leicester City on 16 October 2017.

Monaco

On 30 August 2018, Monaco announced the signing of Chadli on a three-year deal.

Anderlecht (loan)

On 11 August 2019, Chadli joined Anderlecht on a season-long loan from Monaco. He scored 8 goals in 17 games for Anderlect during the 2019-2020 season

International career

A dual citizen of Belgium and Morocco, Chadli was thus able to represent either nation. He made his debut for Morocco side on 17 November 2010, in a 1–1 friendly draw against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park, and was named man of the match. On 28 January 2011, however, he announced his intention to represent Belgium at the international level, which was permitted because he had not yet played in a competitive match for Morocco. He made his debut for the Belgian squad for a 9 February friendly match against Finland.
Chadli has played as a striker for the Belgian national team, scoring his first international goal in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier against Azerbaijan in the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on 29 March 2011.
On 26 May 2014, Chadli scored what would have been his third international goal in a pre-2014 World Cup friendly against Luxembourg. The match, however, was later recognised invalid as coach Marc Wilmots had made seven substitutions instead of the permitted six.
On 13 May 2014, Chadli was named to Belgium's squad for the 2014 World Cup. He started in midfield but was substituted at half time for Dries Mertens in the team's first game of the tournament, a 2–1 win over Algeria in Belo Horizonte.
In May 2018 he was named to Belgium’s preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
On 2 July 2018, Chadli came off the bench to score the winning goal in injury time to lift Belgium to a 3–2 victory over Japan in the round of 16 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The goal is chosen by the BBC panel as goal of the tournament in the 2018 World Cup.

Style of play

Chadli is a versatile midfielder who can play as an attacking midfielder, in a number 10 role, or as a winger on either flank. He is comfortable on both feet and has a good shot at his disposal.

Career statistics

Club

;Notes

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Belgium201161
Belgium201251
Belgium201370
Belgium2014102
Belgium201530
Belgium201620
Belgium201791
Belgium2018131
Belgium201942
BelgiumTotal598
Belgium---

GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.29 March 2011King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium
3–1
4–1
UEFA Euro 2012 qualification
2.29 February 2012Pankritio Stadium, Heraklion, Greece
1–1
1–1
Friendly
3.26 May 2014Cristal Arena, Genk, Belgium
4–1
5–1
Friendly
4.10 October 2014King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium
3–0
6–0
UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
5.9 June 2017A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia
2–0
2–0
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.2 July 2018Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
3–2
3–2
2018 FIFA World Cup
7.6 September 2019San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino
3–0
4–0
UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
8.10 October 2019King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium
2–0
9–0
UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

Club

Twente
Tottenham Hotspur
Belgium