# Thibaud Verlinden

Thibaud Christa Philippe Verlinden (born 9 July 1999) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Belgian Pro League club OH Leuven.

## Career
### Stoke City

Verlinden was born in Brussels and began his career playing in the youth teams at Club Brugge and Standard Liège. In the summer of 2015, he joined English club Stoke City from Standard Liège for a fee of €40,000. He made his professional debut on 23 August 2017 in a 4–0 EFL Cup win over Rochdale. In January 2018, it Verlinden's joined 2. Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season. Verlinden had already participated at two training camps of the club. He made just two appearances for St. Pauli's reserve side in the Regionalliga Nord during his loan spell.
Verlinden made his league debut for Stoke on 16 March 2019 in a 0–0 draw against Reading. On 2 September 2019 Verlinden joined League One side Bolton Wanderers on loan until January 2020. He made his debut on 14 September 2019, starting against Rotherham United and scored in the fourth minute to give Bolton the lead, however Rotherham went on to win 6–1. At the end of his loan period Stoke chose to recall Verlinden. On his return to Stoke, Verlinden made a number of Championship appearances from the bench until he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in on 12 February 2020, ruling him out of the remainder of the 2019–20 season. After returning fitness in 2020–21, Verlinden was unable to force his way into Michael O'Neill's team and in December 2020, stated he wanted to leave in order to find regular first team football.

### Fortuna Sittard

Verlinden joined Dutch Eredivisie club Fortuna Sittard in January 2021.

### Dunajská Streda

Verlinden signed a contract with DAC Dunajská Streda on 3 September 2021. His tenure was to last one year.

### OH Leuven

On 3 February 2025, Verlinden signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with OH Leuven.

## Personal life

Verlinden's father, Dany, played professional football for Club Brugge and Lierse.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 19 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Stoke City U23 | 2016–17 | – | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Stoke City U23 | 2018–19 | – | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Stoke City U23 | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Stoke City | 2017–18 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Stoke City | 2018–19 | EFL Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Stoke City | 2019–20 | EFL Championship | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Stoke City | 2020–21 | EFL Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Stoke City | Total | Total | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| FC St. Pauli (loan) | 2017–18 | 2. Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| FC St. Pauli II (loan) | 2017–18 | Regionalliga Nord | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Bolton Wanderers (loan) | 2019–20 | League One | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 3 |
| Fortuna Sittard | 2020–21 | Eredivisie | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Fortuna Sittard | 2021–22 | Eredivisie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Fortuna Sittard | Total | Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Dunajská Streda | 2021–22 | Slovak Super Liga | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 1 |
| Beerschot | 2022–23 | Challenger Pro League | 31 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 6 |
| Beerschot | 2023–24 | Challenger Pro League | 28 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 5 |
| Beerschot | Total | Total | 59 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 11 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 109 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 119 | 15 |
* 1 2 3 Appearances in EFL Trophy