Rio Hillen

Rio Hillen
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-03-05) 5 March 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Amsterdam, Netherlands[1]
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 De Graafschap
Number 20
Youth career
0000–2014 AFC
2014–2019 AZ
2019–2020 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 Jong Ajax 25 (0)
2022– De Graafschap 62 (3)
International career
2017–2018 Netherlands U15 5 (1)
2019 Netherlands U17 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:13, 2 November 2024 (UTC)

Rio Hillen (born 5 March 2003) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Eerste Divisie club De Graafschap.

Club career

Early years

Hillen started playing football in the youth teams of AFC.[3] In 2014 he transitioned to the youth academy of AZ.[4]

On 11 June 2019, he furthered his development by joining Ajax.[5] Following his move to Ajax, he maintained his presence in the U17 squad, notching two goals in 17 games. In the subsequent season, alongside appearances for U18 and U19, he made his debut for Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie as a substitute in stoppage time for Terrence Douglas during a 5–1 victory over MVV.[6] Subsequently, Hillen began to feature more regularly in the reserve team.[7]

De Graafschap

On 22 June 2022, Hillen signed a two-year contract with De Graafschap.[8] He made his debut for the club on 7 August, the first matchday of the season, starting in a 2–1 loss to PEC Zwolle.[9][10] On 30 January 2023, he scored his first professional goal, equalising in the 58th minute of a 1–1 draw against Jong Utrecht.[11] He remained a starter for the remainder of the season, scoring twice in 39 appearances.[7]

In October 2023, Hillen faced a setback with a knee injury during an away game against Jong AZ. The injury required surgery and kept him out of action for several months.[12]

International career

Born in the Netherlands, Hillen is of Brazilian descent through his mother.[13] He is a youth international for the Netherlands.[14]

Career statistics

As of match played 1 November 2024[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League KNVB Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jong Ajax 2020–21 Eerste Divisie 8 0 — — 8 0
2021–22 Eerste Divisie 17 0 — — 17 0
Total 25 0 — — 25 0
De Graafschap 2022–23 Eerste Divisie 36 2 3 0 — 39 2
2023–24 Eerste Divisie 14 0 0 0 2[a] 0 16 0
2024–25 Eerste Divisie 12 1 0 0 — 12 1
Total 62 3 3 0 2 0 67 3
Career total 87 3 3 0 2 0 92 3
  1. ^ Appearances in Eredivisie play-offs

References

  1. ^ "Rio Hillen | Ajax Showtime". Ajax Showtime (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 22 September 2020.
  2. ^ "R. Hillen: Profiel". Voetbal International (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Fitz-Jim en Hillen: teamgenoten voor het leven". Ajax (in Dutch). 23 February 2021. Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Speler van de Maand: Rio Hillen". AZ (in Dutch). 6 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Ajax contracteert Rio Hillen". Amsterdams Dagblad (in Dutch). 11 June 2019. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  6. ^ "MVV vs. Ajax II 1–5: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Rio Hillen » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  8. ^ "De Graafschap versterkt zich met verdediger Rio Hillen". De Graafschap (in Dutch). 22 June 2022. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  9. ^ "PEC Zwolle klopt De Graafschap na vermakelijke tweede helft". NOS (in Dutch). 7 August 2022. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  10. ^ "PEC Zwolle vs. De Graafschap 2–1: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  11. ^ Willemsen, Raymond (30 January 2023). "De Graafschap stelt teleur bij hekkensluiter Jong FC Utrecht". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Verdediger Rio Hillen de komende maanden uit de roulatie met knieblessure". De Graafschap (in Dutch). 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Rio Hillen: kop omhoog en borst vooruit". AFC Ajax (in Dutch). 8 October 2019. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  14. ^ Scheper, Ruud (19 September 2019). "Rio Hillen: 'Geen extra druk, zien het meer als een uitdaging'". Ons Oranje (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  15. ^ Rio Hillen at Soccerway