{{short description|Belgian footballer (born 1995)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Leander Dendoncker | image = Leander Dendoncker RSC Anderlecht 2025.jpg | caption = Dendoncker with Anderlecht in 2025 | full_name = Leander Dendoncker<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=Squad List: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Belgium (BEL) |publisher=FIFA |page=3 |date=18 December 2022 |access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|4|15|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/182680/leander-dendoncker |title=Leander Dendoncker: Overview |publisher=ESPN |access-date=10 April 2021}}</ref> | birth_place = Passendale, Belgium | height = 1.88 m<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/5866/Leander-Dendoncker/overview |title=Leander Dendoncker: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=10 April 2021}}</ref> | position = Defensive midfielder, centre-back | currentclub = Oviedo | clubnumber = 20 | youthyears1 = 2001–2003 | youthclubs1 = FC Passendale | youthyears2 = 2003–2009 | youthclubs2 = Roeselare | youthyears3 = 2009–2013 | youthclubs3 = Anderlecht | years1 = 2013–2019 | clubs1 = Anderlecht | caps1 = 125 | goals1 = 9 | years2 = 2018–2019 | clubs2 = → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) | caps2 = 19 | goals2 = 2 | years3 = 2019–2022 | clubs3 = Wolverhampton Wanderers | caps3 = 105 | goals3 = 7 | years4 = 2022–2025 | clubs4 = Aston Villa | caps4 = 28 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2024 | clubs5 = → Napoli (loan) | caps5 = 3 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2024–2025 | clubs6 = → Anderlecht (loan) | caps6 = 30 | goals6 = 2 | years7 = 2025– | clubs7 = Oviedo | caps7 = 19 | goals7 = 1 | nationalyears1 = 2010–2011 | nationalteam1 = Belgium U16 | nationalcaps1 = 10 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2011–2012 | nationalteam2 = Belgium U17 | nationalcaps2 = 8 | nationalgoals2 = 2 | nationalyears3 = 2013–2014 | nationalteam3 = Belgium U19 | nationalcaps3 = 9 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 2014–2015 | nationalteam4 = Belgium U21 | nationalcaps4 = 5 | nationalgoals4 = 3 | nationalyears5 = 2015–2023 | nationalteam5 = Belgium | nationalcaps5 = 32 | nationalgoals5 = 1 | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}} {{Medal|Country|{{fb|BEL}}}} {{Medal|Comp|FIFA World Cup}} {{Medal|3rd|2018|}} | club-update = 27 May 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = }} '''Leander Dendoncker''' (born 15 April 1995) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for La Liga club Real Oviedo.
Dendoncker joined Anderlecht in 2009 and made his professional debut in July 2013, going on to play 171 matches and score eleven goals for the club as well as winning two Belgian Super Cups and a Belgian Pro League title. In 2018, he signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan, before transferring permanently for €15 million. After making 159 appearances and scoring twelve goals for the club, Dendoncker moved to fellow Premier League side Aston Villa in September 2022 for an undisclosed fee. He was loaned to Serie A club Napoli and to Anderlecht in 2024. He then joined Spanish club Real Oviedo permanently in August 2025.
Having represented Belgium at youth and senior level, Dendoncker made his senior international debut for Belgium in June 2015. He was part of their squad that finished third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, also featuring at UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
==Club career== ===Anderlecht=== Dendoncker transferred from K.S.V. Roeselare to R.S.C. Anderlecht in 2009, choosing that club ahead of Standard Liège, Club Brugge and K.R.C. Genk.<ref name=DH/> After performances for the youth team in the NextGen Series and a training camp in Turkey, he was incorporated into the first team in January 2013.<ref name=DH/> He said at the time that he modelled his game on that of the Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets.<ref name=DH/>
He made his professional debut on 21 July in the 2013 Belgian Super Cup, replacing Dennis Praet for the final nine minutes of the 1–0 win over Genk at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.<ref name=super>{{cite news |title=Anderlecht bat Genk et remporte sa 11e Supercoupe|trans-title=Anderlecht beat Genk 1–0 and win their 11th Super Cup |url=https://www.lavenir.net/cnt/dmf20130721_002 |access-date=11 July 2018 |work=L'Avenir |date=21 July 2013 |language=fr}}</ref> On 26 September, he extended his contract until 2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dendoncker prolonge à Anderlecht jusqu'en 2016 |trans-title=Dendoncker prolongs at Anderlecht until 2016|url=https://www.rtbf.be/sport/football/belgique/jupilerproleague/detail_dendoncker-prolonge-a-anderlecht-jusqu-en-2016?id=8099369 |access-date=11 July 2018 |publisher=RTBF |date=26 September 2013 |language=fr}}</ref>
However, it was not until 1 August 2014 that he debuted in the Belgian Pro League, on the first day of the season away to KV Oostende.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dendoncker: "Les voilà enfin, mes premiers buts!"|trans-title=Dendoncker: "Finally, my first goals!" |url=http://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/division-1a/anderlecht/dendoncker-les-voila-enfin-mes-premiers-buts-video-585709c2cd701e2eb2882f13 |access-date=11 July 2018 |publisher=DH |date=19 December 2016 |language=fr}}</ref> After scoring his first professional goal on 18 January 2015 in a 3–0 win at Lierse S.K., Dendoncker was praised by former Anderlecht player Paul Van Himst, who said that there was no better player at his position in the club.<ref>{{cite news |title=Van Himst : "A Anderlecht, personne n'est meilleur que Dendoncker en n°6" |trans-title=Van Himst: "At Anderlecht, nobody is better at #6 than Dendoncker|url=https://www.rtbf.be/sport/football/belgique/jupilerproleague/detail_van-himst-a-anderlecht-personne-n-est-meilleur-que-dendoncker-en-n-6?id=8811528 |access-date=11 July 2018 |publisher=RTBF |date=20 January 2015 |language=fr}}</ref> He played six matches in the 2014–15 Belgian Cup, which his team lost 2–1 in the final to Brugge.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anderlecht repris de volée par Bruges en finale de la Coupe |url=https://www.rtbf.be/sport/football/belgique/coupe/detail_fc-bruges-anderlecht-une-finale-au-sommet-live-18h?id=8937619 |access-date=11 July 2018 |publisher=RTBF |date=22 March 2015 |language=fr}}</ref>
Anderlecht won the 2016–17 Belgian First Division A.<ref name=uefa/> Dendoncker scored five goals along the way, including two on 18 December in a 4–0 home win over K.A.S. Eupen.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dendoncker, auteur d'un doublé contre Eupen : "Je savais que j'allais marquer" |trans-title=Dendoncker, author of a brace against Eupen: "I knew I was going to score"|url=https://www.rtbf.be/sport/football/belgique/jupilerproleague/detail_dendoncker-auteur-d-un-double-contre-eupen-je-savais-que-j-allais-marquer?id=9484538 |access-date=11 July 2018 |publisher=RTBF |date=18 December 2016 |language=fr}}</ref> He also played all 16 games in their European campaign that season, which ended with elimination by eventual winners Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League. In the first leg of that tie on 13 April 2017, he scored a late equaliser in a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leander Dendoncker strikes late to deny Red Devils away victory in Europa League |url=https://talksport.com/football/219614/anderlecht-1-1-manchester-united-leander-dendoncker-strikes-late-deny-red-devils-away/ |access-date=11 July 2018 |publisher=Talksport |date=13 April 2017}}</ref>
===Wolverhampton Wanderers=== On 9 August 2018, Dendoncker moved to newly promoted English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers on an initial season-long loan with an obligation on Wolves to make the player a permanent Wolves signing in summer 2019.<ref name="Wolves">{{cite news |title=Wolves land Belgium unternational Dendoncker |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/first-team/20180809-wolves-land-belgium-international-dendoncker/ |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C|date=9 August 2018}}</ref> He made his debut on 28 August in the second round of the EFL Cup away to Sheffield Wednesday (2–0 victory), with coach Nuno Espírito Santo making nine changes from the previous game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45254598 |access-date=22 September 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 August 2018}}</ref> In late September, The Football Association rejected the obligatory purchase clause in Dendoncker's Wolves contract and made his deal permanent for €15 million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Taildeman |first1=Yves |title=Leander Dendoncker déjà vendu pour 15 millions |trans-title=Leander Dendoncker already sold for 15 million|url=http://www.lalibre.be/sports/football/leander-dendoncker-deja-vendu-pour-15-millions-5ba5e794cd70a16d80fb054b |access-date=22 September 2018 |work=La Libre |date=22 September 2018 |language=fr}}</ref>
He finally made a league appearance on 5 December in a 2–1 win against Chelsea, playing the final nine minutes in place of goalscorer Raúl Jiménez,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spiers |first1=Tim |title=Leander Dendoncker delighted with Wolves bow |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2018/12/07/leander-dendoncker-delighted-with-wolves-bow/ |access-date=24 January 2019 |work=Express & Star |date=7 December 2018}}</ref> and scored his first Premier League goal on his sixth appearance in the competition, in a 1–3 win at Everton on 2 February 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnston|first=Neil|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47011463|title=Everton 1–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Wolves impress in win at Everton|access-date=2 February 2019 |work=BBC Sport|date=2 February 2019}}</ref> thumb|360x360px|Dendoncker with Wolves in April 2022 Dendoncker committed a foul in the Wolves penalty area with just 180 seconds remaining of their April 2019 FA Cup semi-final with Watford while leading 2–1, thereby conceded the penalty that enabled the opponents to draw the game and then win in extra time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/04/08/heartbroken-leander-dendoncker-admits-stupid-foul-in-wolves-cup-defeat/|title=Heartbroken Leander Dendoncker admits 'stupid foul' in Wolves Cup defeat |last=Spiers |first=Tim |work=Express & Star |access-date=11 April 2019 |date=8 April 2019}}</ref> On 4 May he scored the only goal of a home win over Fulham, which enabled Wolves to make the Europa League as a result of Watford losing the cup final.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/04/wolves-fulham-premier-league-match-report#comment-128689878|title=Leander Dendoncker strike keeps Wolves in hunt for European place|work=The Observer|date=4 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kendrick |first1=Mat |title='L06ERS' Man City batter Watford in the FA Cup final & the response from Wolves fans is brutal |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/l06ers-man-city-batter-watford-16296819 |access-date=18 September 2020 |work=Birmingham Mail |date=18 May 2019}}</ref>
Dendoncker became a permanent Wolves signing on 1 July 2019, his original loan agreement having included an obligation on the club to sign him permanently at the end of the original season-long loan period.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11699/11752271/wolves-sign-leander-dendoncker-on-permanent-deal|title=Wolves sign Leander Dendoncker on permanent deal|work=Sky Sports |access-date=29 July 2019 |date=1 July 2019}}</ref> Following the introduction of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) by the Premier League for the 2019–20 season,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/var-premier-league-next-season-news-a8635291.html|title=Premier League to introduce VAR for start of 2019/20 season|work=The Independent|date=15 November 2018|access-date=11 August 2019}}</ref> he was the first Wolves player to have a 'goal' ruled out using VAR in a league match during Wolves' opening fixture away to Leicester City on 11 August.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49223796|title=Leicester 0–0 Wolves: Leander Dendoncker has goal ruled out by VAR decision|publisher=BBC Sport|date=11 August 2019|access-date=11 August 2019}}</ref>
On 14 December 2020, it was announced by Wolverhampton Wanderers that Dendoncker had extended his contract with the club until 2023, with an option of a further twelve months available to the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/first-team/20201214-dendoncker-signs-new-wolves-contract/|title=Dendoncker signs new Wolves contract|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|date=14 December 2020|access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2020/12/15/leander-dendoncker-signs-new-wolves-contract-until-2023/|title=Leander Dendoncker signs new Wolves contract until 2023|last=Edwards |first=Joe |work=Shropshire Star |access-date=18 December 2020 |date=15 December 2020}}</ref> He made his 100th competitive appearance for the club in an FA Cup 4th Round tie away to non-league Chorley the following 22 January, a game Wolves won 1–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55722682|title=Chorley 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Vitinha's superb goal sees Wolves past non-league opponents|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Simon|last=Stone|date=22 January 2021|access-date=22 January 2021}}</ref> He scored his first goal of the 2020–21 season at home to West Ham United in a 3–2 loss on 5 April 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56560430|title=Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–3 West Ham: Jesse Lingard stunner helps Hammers to win|last=Rose |first=Gary |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=6 April 2021 |date=5 April 2021}}</ref> He scored his first goal in the 2021–22 Premier League season in 2–0 win away to Tottenham Hotspur on 13 February 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60276484|title=Tottenham Hotspur 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers:Conte's side beaten at home|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Alex|last=Bysouth|date=13 February 2022}}</ref>
=== Aston Villa === On 1 September 2022, 27-year-old Dendoncker moved to fellow West Midlands-based Premier League club Aston Villa for a fee of around £13 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Preece |first=Ashley |date=1 September 2022 |title=Aston Villa announce Leander Dendoncker transfer from Wolves |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-dendoncker-wolves-24905199 |access-date=27 December 2023 |website=Birmingham Mail}}</ref> He made his debut 15 days later, as a 67th-minute substitute for Jacob Ramsey in a 1–0 home victory over Southampton.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNulty |first=Phil |date=16 September 2022 |title=Aston Villa 1-0 Southampton: Steven Gerrard praises side after 'big victory' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62845794 |access-date=20 September 2022 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> He was mainly used as a substitute in his first season, and missed out on games altogether, and manager Unai Emery said that it was because of "a problem at home"; he was absent from all of March 2023 with a hand injury.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Lewis |title=Unai Emery hopeful of Leander Dendoncker Aston Villa return |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/aston-villa/2023/03/28/unai-emery-hopeful-of-leander-dendoncker-aston-villa-return/ |access-date=5 January 2024 |work=Express & Star |date=28 March 2023}}</ref>
Dendoncker scored his first goal for Aston Villa on 26 December 2023, his team's second in a 3–2 defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67757164 |title=Manchester United 3–2 Aston Villa|first=Simon |last=Stone |work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref>
==== Loan to Napoli ==== On 26 January 2024, Dendoncker was sent to Serie A club Napoli on loan until the end of the season, with the option to buy for around £8 million at the end of the loan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Townley |first=John |date=2024-01-26 |title=Aston Villa transfer confirmed as midfielder departs Unai Emery's squad |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-confirmed-unai-28506133 |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=Birmingham Live}}</ref> He made his Napoli debut two days later in a 0–0 draw at Lazio.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mackenzie |first=Alasdair |date=28 January 2024 |title=Lazio 0-0 Napoli: Star-shy giants play out goalless draw in Serie A with top four hopes in balance |url=https://www.tntsports.co.uk/football/serie-a/2022-2023/serie-a-live_sto9993980/story.shtml |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=www.tntsports.co.uk}}</ref> On 30 June 2024, Napoli confirmed that they would not be taking up the option to sign Dendoncker permanently and he would be returning to Aston Villa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Townley |first=John |date=30 June 2024 |title=Napoli confirm Aston Villa transfer decision after nightmare outcome |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/napoli-confirm-aston-villa-transfer-29447162 |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Birmingham Mail}}</ref>
==== Loan to Anderlecht ==== On 31 August 2024, Dendoncker returned to Anderlecht on loan until the end of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leander Dendoncker keert voor (minstens) 1 seizoen terug naar Anderlecht: "Dit is toch echt mijn thuis" |url=https://sporza.be/nl/2024/08/31/leander-dendoncker-keert-voor-minstens-1-seizoen-terug-naar-anderlecht-dit-is-toch-echt-mijn-thuis~1725129379630/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=sporza.be |language=nl}}</ref> Both clubs agreed on a purchase option, but the amount is undisclosed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome back, Leander |url=https://www.rsca.be/en/Leander |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=www.rsca.be}}</ref> At the end of his loan, the Belgian club decided not to act on the purchase option and Dendoncker returned to Aston Villa.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Maher |first=Matt |date=19 August 2025 |title=Aston Villa confirm midfielder exit after just 13 starts in three years |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/2025/08/19/aston-villa-confirm-midfielder-exit-after-just-13-starts-in-three-years/ |access-date=19 August 2025 |website=www.expressandstar.com |language=en}}</ref>
=== Oviedo === On 19 August 2025, Dendoncker signed for newly-promoted La Liga club Real Oviedo for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 August 2025 |title=Leander Dendoncker departs |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/august/19/dendoncker-departs/ |access-date=19 August 2025 |website=Aston Villa Football Club}}</ref> Despite the official statement on the transfer stating there was an undisclosed fee, media reported that it was actually a free transfer with Aston Villa keen to rid themselves of Dendoncker's wages.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Sumeet |date=19 August 2025 |title=Leander Dendoncker joins Real Oviedo |url=https://talk-villa.com/aston-villa-transfer-news-leander-dendoncker-exit-real-oviedo-confirmed/ |access-date=19 August 2025 |website=Talk Villa |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
==International career== [[File:ENG-BEL (31).jpg|thumb|Dendoncker (right) and England's Jamie Vardy at the 2018 FIFA World Cup]] At the age of 20 on 22 May 2015, Dendoncker received his first call-up to the Belgium national football team by coach Marc Wilmots, along with his Anderlecht teammate Youri Tielemans.<ref>{{cite news |title=Diables rouges: Wilmots appelle Dendoncker et Tielemans|trans-title=Red Devils: Wilmots calls up Dendoncker and Tielemans |url=http://www.lalibre.be/sports/football/diables-rouges-wilmots-appelle-dendoncker-et-tielemans-555eeed33570fde9b35b98db |access-date=11 July 2018 |newspaper=La Libre |date=22 May 2015 |language=fr}}</ref> He made his debut on 7 June in an away friendly match against France, replacing Jason Denayer for the final five minutes of a 4–3 victory.<ref>{{cite news |title=Une spectaculaire victoire de prestige! |trans-title=A spectacular prestigious victory!|url=https://www.lavenir.net/cnt/dmf20150606_00660540 |access-date=11 July 2018 |newspaper=L'Avenir |date=7 June 2015 |language=fr}}</ref>
On 4 June 2018, coach Roberto Martínez named Dendoncker in Belgium's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.<ref>{{cite news |title=World Cup 2018: Belgium include Vincent Kompany but Christian Benteke misses out |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44353673 |access-date=11 July 2018|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=4 June 2018}}</ref> He made his tournament debut on 29 June in a 1–0 victory against England at the Kaliningrad Stadium, with both teams fielding unfamiliar teams having already advanced to the last 16.<ref>{{cite news |title=Adnan Januzaj strikes as Gareth Southgate's side finish second |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/england-vs-belgium/385210 |access-date=11 July 2018|website=Sky Sports|publisher=Sky Group|date=29 June 2018}}</ref>
Dendoncker was called up by Martínez for UEFA Euro 2020 in May 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last=Keen |first=Liam |title=Wolves' Leander Dendoncker called up to Belgium Euro 2020 squad|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2021/05/17/wolves-leander-dendoncker-called-up-to-belgium-euro-2020-squad/ |access-date=4 September 2022 |website=Express & Star |date=17 May 2021}}</ref> After starting the first two matches, he was replaced for the rest of the tournament for the quarter-finalists once Axel Witsel recovered from injury.<ref>{{cite news |last=Michel |first=Lucas |title=Hazard et De Bruyne de retour : la Belgique retrouve ses cadres|trans-title=Hazard and De Bruyne back: Belgium find their shape again|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/sports/football/euro/hazard-et-de-bruyne-de-retour-la-belgique-retrouve-ses-cadres-20210620 |access-date=4 September 2022|newspaper=Le Figaro |date=20 June 2021 |language=fr}}</ref>
On 8 June 2022, Dendoncker scored his first international goal in a 6–1 home victory against Poland in the Nations League.<ref>{{cite news |title=Belgium 6-1 Poland: Red Devils turn on the style |url=https://www.uefa.com/news/0276-155763c455df-75100d3bd738-1000--report-red-devils-maul-poland/ |access-date=4 September 2022 |publisher=UEFA |date=8 June 2022}}</ref> At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he started Belgium's opening match against Canada in a three-man defence alongside veterans Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld in a 1–0 victory.<ref>{{cite news |title=Michy Batshuayi spares Belgium's blushes as Canada miss chance for upset |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/11/23/belgium-vs-canada-world-cup-2022-live-score-latest-updates-group/ |access-date=30 July 2023 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=14 December 2022}}</ref> Dendoncker was dropped out in a 2–0 defeat against Morocco.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smyth |first=Rob |title=Belgium 0{{En dash}}2 Morocco |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2022/nov/27/belgium-v-morocco-world-cup-2022-live?page=with:block-638232a98f084a383e124b67&filterKeyEvents=false#liveblog-navigation |access-date=30 July 2023 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 November 2022}}</ref> He returned to the starting line-up in a goalless draw against Croatia, which led the Belgians to be eliminated from the group stage.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilks |first=Mitchell |title=Belgium, that was pathetic! Winners, losers & ratings as hopeless Belgium crash out of World Cup after Lukaku horrorshow |url=https://www.goal.com/en/lists/winners-losers-ratings-belgium-out-world-cup-lukaku-horrorshow/blt717555b4fea52a54#cs9458c7045da2e091 |access-date=30 July 2023 |website=Goal|date=1 December 2022}}</ref>
==Personal life== Dendoncker was born in Passendale, West Flanders, to pig farming parents.<ref name=DH>{{cite news |title=Dendoncker, le jeune qui monte|trans-title=Dendoncker, the young player on the rise |url=http://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/division-1a/anderlecht/dendoncker-le-jeune-qui-monte-51b744d9e4b0de6db97787e4 |access-date=11 July 2018 |publisher=DH |date=13 January 2013 |language=fr}}</ref> He is the middle of three footballing sons: younger brother Lars was on the books of Club Brugge KV before moving to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2020, while older Andres played local football and became an agent for his siblings.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vandewynckele |first1=Fons |title=Andres Dendoncker: "Gekozen voor ploeg naast mijn deur"|trans-title=Andres Dendoncker: "Chosen for a team next to my door" |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20160829_02444216 |access-date=4 September 2022 |work=het Nieuwsblad |date=30 August 2016 |language=Dutch}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lars Dendoncker (19) tekent net als broer Leander in Engeland: "Maar zeker niet dankzij de achternaam"|trans-title=Lars Dendoncker (19) signs just like brother Leander in England: "But certainly not thanks to the surname"|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20200701_97518989 |access-date=4 September 2022 |work=het Nieuwsblad |date=2 July 2020 |language=Dutch}}</ref> Lars Dendoncker retired at age 22 in 2023, due to a heart condition.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carden |first1=George |title=Former Brighton player Lars Dendoncker retires due to heart condition |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/23682912.former-brighton-player-lars-dendoncker-retires-due-heart-condition/ |access-date=30 July 2023 |work=The Argus |date=27 July 2023}}</ref>
Dendoncker moved to Brussels to play for Anderlecht while in their under-15 team and suffered from homesickness while adjusting to the difference between a largely white rural setting and a diverse urban environment.<ref name="hans">{{cite web|last1=Vandeweghe|first1=Hans|title=Verhaal over Leander Dendoncker in De Morgen van 13 mei 2017|date=14 May 2017 |trans-title=Story about Leander Dendoncker in ''De Morgen'' of 13 May 2017|url=https://hansvdw1.wordpress.com/2017/05/14/verhaal-over-leander-dendoncker-in-de-morgen-van-13-mei-2017/|access-date=29 July 2018|language=nl}} <br /> {{cite news|last1=Vandeweghe|first1=Hans|date=14 May 2017|title=Leander Dendoncker, de aorta van Anderlecht: "Voetbal is bijzaak"|language=nl|trans-title=Leander Dendoncker, Anderlecht's aorta: "Football is a side issue"|url=https://www.demorgen.be/sport/leander-dendoncker-de-aorta-van-anderlecht-voetbal-is-bijzaak-bef2e4bd/|access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref> He attended the Sint-Guido-Instituut school in Anderlecht at the time that it was being filmed for the fly-on-the-wall documentary ''De School van Lukaku'' (Lukaku's School) focusing on his teammate Romelu Lukaku.<ref name=hans/>
Dendoncker speaks four languages fluently; English, French, Spanish and Dutch. He has noted that he speaks in West Flemish to his family, but the Brabantian dialect when doing interviews for Anderlecht.<ref name=hans/>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 31 January 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Belgian Cup, FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6"|Anderlecht |2013–14<ref name="sw">{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/leander-dendoncker/215348/|title=L. Dendoncker|website=Soccerway|access-date=8 November 2016}}</ref> |Belgian Pro League |0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||1{{efn|name=BSC|Appearance in Belgian Super Cup}}||0||2||0 |- |2014–15<ref name="sw" /> |Belgian Pro League |26||2||6||0||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||0||0||38||2 |- |2015–16<ref name="sw" /> |Belgian Pro League |23||1||1||1||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||30||2 |- |2016–17<ref name="sw" /> |Belgian Pro League |40||5||1||0||colspan="2"|—||16{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, fourteen appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League}}||1||colspan="2"|—||57||6 |- |2017–18<ref name="sw" /> |Belgian Pro League |36||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||0||0||0||44||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !125!!9!!11!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!34!!1!!1!!0!!171!!11 |- |Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) |2018–19<ref name=sb1819>{{soccerbase season|70960|2018|access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> |Premier League |19||2||5||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||2 |- |rowspan="5"|Wolverhampton Wanderers |2019–20<ref name=sb1920>{{soccerbase season|70960|2019|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref> |Premier League |38||4||2||0||0||0||17{{efn|name=UEL}}||2||colspan="2"|—||57||6 |- |2020–21<ref name=sb2021>{{soccerbase season|70960|2020|access-date=14 September 2020}}</ref> |Premier League |33||1||3||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||37||1 |- |2021–22<ref name=sb2122>{{soccerbase season|70960|2021|access-date=16 August 2021}}</ref> |Premier League |30||2||2||0||2||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||3 |- |2022–23<ref name=sb2223>{{soccerbase season|70960|2022|access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref> |Premier League |4||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5||0 |- !colspan="2"|Wolves total !124!!9!!12!!0!!6!!1!!17!!2!!colspan="2"|—!!159!!12 |- |rowspan="4"|Aston Villa |2022–23<ref name=sb2223 /> |Premier League |20||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||21||0 |- |2023–24<ref name=sb2324>{{soccerbase season|70960|2023|access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref> |Premier League |8||1||1||0||1||0||5{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League|name=UECL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||15||1 |- |2024–25<ref name=sb2425>{{soccerbase season|70960|2024|access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref> |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !28!!1!!2!!0!!1!!0!!5!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!36!!1 |- |Napoli (loan) |2023–24<ref name=sb2324 /> |Serie A |3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- |Anderlecht (loan) |2024–25<ref name=sb2425 /> |Belgian Pro League |30||2||5||1||colspan="2"|—||8{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||43||3 |- |Oviedo |2025–26<ref name=sb2526>{{soccerbase season|70960|2025|access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref> |La Liga |18||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !329!!22!!30!!2!!7!!1!!60!!5!!1!!0!!431!!28 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|match played 17 June 2023|<ref name="EUFoot">{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=29066|title=Leander Dendoncker|website=EU-Football.info|access-date=1 July 2018}}</ref>}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=9|Belgium |2015||1||0 |- |2016||1||0 |- |2017||2||0 |- |2018||2||0 |- |2019||3||0 |- |2020||3||0 |- |2021||12||0 |- |2022||7||1 |- |2023||1||0 |- !colspan=2|Total||32||1 |}
:''Belgium score listed first, score column indicates score after each Dendoncker goal.''<ref name="EUFoot"/>
{| class="wikitable" |+ List of international goals scored by Leander Dendoncker |- !scope=col|No. !scope=col|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Cap !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition |- | align=center | 1 || 8 June 2022 || King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium || align=center | 27 || {{fb|POL}} || align=center | 5–1 || align=center | 6–1 || 2022–23 UEFA Nations League A |}
==Honours== '''Anderlecht''' *Belgian First Division A: 2016–17<ref name=uefa>{{cite news|url=https://de.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0239-0e97079436cb-34f3c775df58-1000--anderlecht-wieder-ganz-oben-in-belgien/|language=de|title=Anderlecht wieder ganz oben in Belgien|publisher=UEFA|date=19 May 2017|access-date=21 May 2018|first=Berend|last=Scholten}}</ref> *Belgian Super Cup: 2013,<ref name=super/> 2014{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
'''Belgium''' *FIFA World Cup third place: 2018{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://www.avfc.co.uk/players/leanderdendoncker/ Profile] at the Aston Villa F.C. website *{{RBFA player}} *{{UEFA player}} *{{FIFA player}}
{{Real Oviedo squad}} {{Navboxes | title = Belgium squads | bg = #E20E0E | fg = #FDDA25 | bordercolor = black | list1 = {{Belgium squad 2018 FIFA World Cup}} {{Belgium squad UEFA Euro 2020}} {{Belgium squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}} }} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dendoncker, Leander}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from West Flanders Category:Belgian men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:KSV Roeselare players Category:RSC Anderlecht players Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players Category:Aston Villa F.C. players Category:SSC Napoli players Category:Real Oviedo players Category:Belgian Pro League players Category:Premier League players Category:Serie A players Category:La Liga players Category:Belgium men's youth international footballers Category:Belgium men's under-21 international footballers Category:Belgium men's international footballers Category:2018 FIFA World Cup players Category:UEFA Euro 2020 players Category:2022 FIFA World Cup players Category:Belgian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:21st-century Belgian sportsmen Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Spain