# Kjell Scherpen

Kjell Scherpen (born 23 January 2000) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Austrian Football Bundesliga club Sturm Graz, on loan from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, and the Netherlands under-21 national team.

## Club career
### FC Emmen

Scherpen began his senior career with FC Emmen in the 2016–17 season.

### Ajax

In April 2019 it was announced that he would sign for Ajax in June 2019. His 'signing video' involved him writing the words "Ajax is de mooiste club van Nederland" (Ajax is the most beautiful club in the Netherlands) 1,000 times, as he had been a childhood supporter of rival club Feyenoord.
Scherpen made his debut for the Ajax senior team on 4 April 2021, as starter Maarten Stekelenburg was injured shortly before kickoff.

### Brighton & Hove Albion

He was linked with a loan move to Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle, but on 16 July 2021, Scherpen signed for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion permanently for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut on 8 January 2022, in a 2–1 (after extra-time) away victory over Championship side West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup third round.
On 31 January 2022, Scherpen signed for Oostende of Belgian First Division A on loan for the remainder of the season. He moved on loan to Vitesse in August 2022.
On 6 July 2023, Scherpen signed a season-long loan deal with Austrian Football Bundesliga club Sturm Graz.
In December 2023, Scherpen signed a new contract with the club until 2027. He returned on loan to Sturm Graz for the 2024–25 season.

## International career

Having represented the Netherlands at under-19 and under-21 youth levels, Scherpen received his first call-up to the Dutch senior squad in June 2022 to replace the injured Tim Krul.

## Personal life

When he was 18 years old, his older brother Jorg (20) died after having been in a coma following a sudden cardiac arrest.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 9 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| FC Emmen | 2017–18 | Eerste Divisie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| FC Emmen | 2018–19 | Eredivisie | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 0 |
| FC Emmen | Total | Total | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 0 |
| Jong Ajax | 2019–20 | Eerste Divisie | 14 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 0 |
| Jong Ajax | 2020–21 | Eerste Divisie | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 0 |
| Jong Ajax | Total | Total | 29 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 0 |
| Ajax | 2019–20 | Eredivisie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ajax | 2020–21 | Eredivisie | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Ajax | Total | Total | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2022–23 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2023–24 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2024–25 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Oostende (loan) | 2021–22 | Belgian Pro League | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Vitesse (loan) | 2022–23 | Eredivisie | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 0 |
| Sturm Graz (loan) | 2023–24 | Austrian Bundesliga | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Sturm Graz (loan) | 2024–25 | Austrian Bundesliga | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 134 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 159 | 0 |
* ↑ Includes KNVB Cup, FA Cup, Austrian Cup
* ↑ Includes EFL Cup
* ↑ Appearance in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, six in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

## Honours

Ajax
* Eredivisie: 2020–21
* KNVB Cup: 2020–21
* Johan Cruyff Shield: 2019
Sturm Graz
* Austrian Bundesliga: 2023–24
* Austrian Cup: 2023–24