Brighton and Hove Albion defender Joel Veltman has signed a new contract, the club said this evening (Monday 3 July).
The 31-year-old was a product of the Ajax youth academy who moved from Amsterdam to Brighton in July 2020 for a reported fee of £900,000 on a three-year deal.
Albion said tonight: “We are pleased to confirm that Joel Veltman has signed a new two-year contract until June 2025.”
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi said: “I am very pleased that he has extended his contract. He is a good example to the other players and he will be a key and important player for us.”
Albion said: “Joel is an Ajax academy graduate and made his first team debut in 2012, going onto play 246 games for the 36-time Eredivisie champions.
“In his time there, he would win the league three times, the KNVB Cup in 2019, finish as a runner-up in the Europa League in 2017 and reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.
“He has been a regular for us in his three years here and he made 31 Premier League appearances last season, helping us finish sixth and qualify for European football for the first time in our history.
“In total, Joel has made 106 appearances for the club since he joined us from Ajax in 2020.
“His experience will be key in the club’s first-ever Euro campaign in this season’s Europa League.”
While the 6ft Dutch defender has consistently proved his worth at the back, he has also scored three goals – one a season – since signing for the Seagulls.
The first of those was an equaliser against Crystal Palace at the Amex in February 2021 in a match won 2-1 by the visitors.
Veltman has also won 28 caps for the Netherlands national team since making his senior international debut in November 2013.
