Bert Esselink, our very own Dutch dynamo, was welcomed into the world on the 16th of August 1999, which would make him 26 years young. Born in the land of tulips and windmills, the Netherlands, Esselink has carved out a successful career as a firm, steadfast defender. Setting up shop primarily in the central defender position for Dundee United, it wouldn't be a stretch to refer to him as a towering force on the pitch, standing at an impressive 6ft 3in (1.91m). He keeps his lean figure with a weight of approximately 12st 3lb (78kg), and whether rain or shine, Esselink dons the number 3 jersey with pride.
One can be certain that every aspiring footballer dreams of a transfer fee with enough zeros to get lost in. While Esselink might not quite be in the multi-million-pound range, he is nonetheless a sought-after player with a market value hovering at approximately €350k (roughly £300k). Don't just take my word for it; it's all there in black and white on Transfermarkt.
Esselink's football journey has taken him to many a pitch. In July 2023, he made a move from APOEL, representing the First Division in Cyprus, to Stal Mielec in the I Liga in far-off Poland for a sum that still remains a well-guarded secret. During his debut season (2023-2024) in Poland, Esselink proved his worth with no less than 26 first team appearances, netting a neat pair of goals in league matches for good measure. His sequel season (2024-2025), still at Stal Mielec, saw him once again grace the field for a commendable 28 first team appearances in league matches.
July 2025 was a pivotal time for Esselink, seeing him uproot from Poland's I Liga to settle in the Premiership of Scotland, making Dundee United his home away from home. In the current footballing year of 2025-2026, Esselink has pulled the famous Dundee United jersey over his head for an impressive 19 first team appearances, even managing to put one ball past the opposing keeper in league matches. Furthermore, he proudly represented Dundee United in the League Cup 2025-2026 with one impressive start, proving his worth yet again in the Conference League Qualifiers 2025-2026 with four admirable starts.
