Steven Defour

Born in Mechelen, Defour played youth football with local K.V. Mechelen, moving to K.R.C. Genk in 2004 due to the club's financial difficulties. He made his Pro League debut during the 2004–05 season and, at just 17, became first-choice, finishing the 2005–06 campaign with 26 games and one goal to help his team to the fifth position.

When Genk failed to qualify for European competition, Defour tried to move to AFC Ajax in the summer of 2006. Enraged by earlier reports that Ajax had approached the player to broker a deal without their consent, Genk did not accept the proposed transfer fee, and after protracted negotiations, Ajax pulled out of the deal. Defour tried to force a transfer by threatening to leave, using a Belgian law that allowed professional athletes on fixed-term contracts to leave their employers before the end of the stipulated term, but Ajax did not express a renewed interest in his services, and he ended up signing for Standard Liège for a much-reduced transfer fee, effectively breaking a gentlemen's agreement between Belgian sides not to sign under-contract players using the aforementioned law.[3][4][5]

Defour joined Standard on a five-year deal,[6] being appointed team captain at the start of his second year after taking over from Portugal's Sérgio Conceição – he was just 19 years old.[7] He received the Belgian Golden Shoe at the end of the season in the process, leading the Reds to their first league title in 25 years.[8]

In late 2009, shortly after scoring four goals in 31 games to help Standard renew their domestic supremacy, Defour broke his right foot. During his period of recovery he received a letter from Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, wishing him all the best in his recovery,[9] and this led to persistent rumours of a switch to the English club, but he refuted these by saying "I do know that Manchester United are monitoring me – if everything goes well and I continue playing as I am, there is a better chance of me leaving than there was at the start of the season";[10] eventually, nothing came of it.

Defour playing for Porto in 2013

On 15 August 2011, Portuguese club FC Porto agreed with Standard Liége[11] to buy the sporting rights of Defour for €6 million, and he signed a five-year contract.[12][13] He finished his first year with 37 appearances all competitions comprised and added two goals,[14][15] helping his new team win the Primeira Liga championship.[16]

On 18 September 2012, Defour netted Porto's second goal against GNK Dinamo Zagreb in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League (2–0 away win).[17] On 13 March of the following year, for the same competition but in the round of 16, he was booked twice and subsequently sent off in the 49th minute of the second leg of the tie at Málaga CF, as the northerners lost 0–2 at La Rosaleda Stadium and 1–2 on aggregate.[18]

On 13 August 2014, Defour signed a five-year deal with R.S.C. Anderlecht, for €6 million. On 25 January of the following year, when playing at Standard Liège, he was sent off for deliberately kicking the ball at home fans who had unfurled a banner depicting his severed head under the slogan "Red or Dead". His ejection caused the visiting supporters to rip out their seats and throw them onto the pitch,[19] and the banner received criticism from both the Royal Belgian Football Association and the league.[20]

On 16 August 2016, Defour signed for Premier League club Burnley for a club-record transfer fee of £8 million.[21][22] He made his competitive debut four days later, starting in a 2–0 home win over Liverpool in which he helped create the second goal by Andre Gray but was substituted early in the second half due to a lack of fitness.[23] On 10 September, also at Turf Moor, he scored his first goal for his new team to open a 1–1 draw with fellow promotee Hull City, and was praised after the match by manager Sean Dyche.[24]

During his later spell, Defour was constantly bothered by injury problems.[25] On 31 August 2019, he had his contract terminated citing personal reasons.[26]

In September 2019, aged 31, Defour joined Royal Antwerp F.C. on a one-year deal.[27][28] On 16 October 2020, he returned to Mechelen 13 years after leaving the Achter de Kazerne, agreeing to a performance-oriented contract.[29]

As of match played 6 November 2020[36]

Belgium score listed first, score column indicates score after each Defour goal.[38]

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	6 September 2008	Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, Belgium	15	Estonia	2–1	3–2	2010 World Cup qualification
2	6 September 2013	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	39	Scotland	1–0	2–0	2014 World Cup qualification

Standard Liège[37]

• Belgian Pro League: 2007–08, 2008–09
• Belgian Cup: 2010–11
• Belgian Supercup: 2008, 2009

Porto[37]

• Primeira Liga: 2011–12, 2012–13
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2012, 2013

• Belgian Golden Shoe: 2007[8]