Mats Knoester, born on 19 November 1998 (age 27), is a Dutch central defender with Aberdeen, where he wears number five. A Feyenoord academy player, he took his first senior steps away from Rotterdam on loan at FC Dordrecht, a useful early test before a more settled spell at Heracles Almelo.
Heracles gave him the platform to become a regular Eredivisie defender. His most productive league season came in 2020–2021, when he scored two goals in 27 appearances, enough to show he could contribute at both ends without anyone needing to get carried away.
Knoester later arrived at Aberdeen and remains a regular first-team presence in 2025–2026. He has made 28 league appearances and six in the Conference League for the Dons this season, giving him 34 appearances across all competitions. His current market value is around £510,000, according to Transfermarkt.
His career has been built in practical stages: Dutch youth football, an early loan, a proper run at Heracles, and now a prominent role at Aberdeen. At 27, he is an established professional with regular first-team football behind him and still in front of him.
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