# Remco Balk

Remco Balk (born 2 March 2001) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a winger for Eerste Divisie club Cambuur.

## Club career
### Groningen

Balk was born in Zuidhorn, Province of Groningen where he started playing football for local side VV Zuidhorn before joining FC Groningen's academy in 2012. In 2018, he signed a professional contract with the club, keeping him part of Groningen until 2021.
On 25 September 2020, Balk made his professional debut in a 3–1 Eredivisie loss to Twente, replacing Ramon Pascal Lundqvist in the 66th minute. In the following league game on 4 October, Balk made his first start and scored his first professional goal, which proved to be decisive, as Groningen beat Ajax 1–0.

### Utrecht

On 20 January 2021, Balk's transfer to division rivals Utrecht was announced, with him signing a deal until 2025. Upon signing, the club's technical director Jordy Zuidam stated: "Remco is a dynamic player with excellent technical skills ... He possesses a tremendous drive and a strong mentality. We are convinced that Remco is a great fit for FC Utrecht, and we're thrilled to welcome him here."
His debut for Utrecht followed on 24 January, coming on as a substitute for Bart Ramselaar in the 84th minute of a 1–0 victory against Sparta Rotterdam. Subsequently, Balk alternated between playing matches for both the first and second team of Utrecht, the latter in the second tier.

### Cambuur

Balk was sent on a one-season loan to Eredivisie club Cambuur on 2 June 2022. The deal did not include an option to buy. After signing, Balk stated that he had signed with Cambuur because he wanted to play regularly and enjoy football again, as his opportunities at FC Utrecht had become limited. He made 30 league appearances that season, of which most were as a substitute, as Cambuur suffered relegation to the Eerste Divisie at the end of the season.
On 28 June 2023, Balk moved to Cambuur on a permanent deal and signed a two-year contract with an option for the third year. In his second season at the club, he established himself as a starter in manager Henk de Jong's lineup. Balk had disciplinary problems during the 2023–24 season, matching a negative division record with 13 yellow cards. Thereby, he tied the record of 13 yellow cards previously set by Sander Duits in the 2008–09 season and Philippe Liard in the 2010–11 season.

## Personal life

Growing up in Zuidhorn, Balk worked as dishwasher in his father's restaurant "Balk Restaurant en Zalencentrum".

## Career statistics

    As of match played 8 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | KNVB Cup | KNVB Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Groningen | 2020–21 | Eredivisie | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 1 |
| Utrecht | 2020–21 | Eredivisie | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Utrecht | 2021–22 | Eredivisie | 17 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| Utrecht | Total | Total | 19 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| Jong Utrecht | 2020–21 | Eerste Divisie | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 |
| Jong Utrecht | 2021–22 | Eerste Divisie | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 1 |
| Jong Utrecht | Total | Total | 18 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 2 |
| Cambuur | 2022–23 | Eredivisie | 30 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 32 | 2 |
| Cambuur | 2023–24 | Eerste Divisie | 33 | 8 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 38 | 9 |
| Cambuur | 2024–25 | Eerste Divisie | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 4 |
| Cambuur | Total | Total | 77 | 13 | 8 | 2 | — | — | 85 | 15 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 125 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 19 |