William Troost-Ekong is one of the most recognisable Nigerian defenders of his generation. Born in the Netherlands to a Nigerian father and Dutch mother, he built a professional football career across several European leagues before moving to the Middle East. He also became an important leader for the Nigeria national team and was named the Best Player of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Today, many football fans search for information about William Troost-Ekong’s age, wife, family, career, salary, current club and net worth. This biography brings those details together in simple language while separating confirmed information from figures that are only estimates.
William Troost-Ekong Profile
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | William Paul Troost-Ekong |
| Date of birth | September 1, 1993 |
| Age | 33 years old |
| Place of birth | Haarlem, Netherlands |
| Nationality | Nigerian and Dutch background |
| Position | Centre-back |
| Height | About 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Current club | Al-Ahli SC, Qatar |
| Previous major clubs | FC Groningen, Dordrecht, Haugesund, Gent, Bursaspor, Udinese, Watford, Salernitana, PAOK, Al-Kholood |
| Nigeria debut | 2015 |
| International retirement | 2025 |
| Major individual honour | 2023 AFCON Best Player |
Current player records list Troost-Ekong as an Al-Ahli player in Qatar, with his contract running to June 2028.
Who Is William Troost-Ekong?
William Troost-Ekong is a professional footballer who plays primarily as a central defender. Although he was born in the Netherlands, his Nigerian heritage has always been an important part of his football identity.
His father is Nigerian, while his mother is Dutch. This background meant he had connections to both countries at international level. Troost-Ekong represented the Netherlands at youth level before eventually choosing to play senior international football for Nigeria.
That decision proved significant. He went on to become a regular Super Eagles defender, captain the team and participate in major competitions including the FIFA World Cup and several Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
His career has been built around defending, leadership, aerial ability, physical strength and experience. He has also developed a reputation for scoring important goals despite playing in defence.
CAF recognised his importance during the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire by naming him the tournament’s Best Player.
How Old Is William Troost-Ekong?
William Troost-Ekong was born on September 1, 1993, in Haarlem, Netherlands.
As of September 2026, he is 33 years old.
His birthday places him among the more experienced defenders in African football. His long career has taken him through clubs and leagues in the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Turkey, Italy, England, Greece, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Despite spending much of his childhood and early football development outside Nigeria, he became one of the country’s most experienced modern defenders.
William Troost-Ekong’s Early Life and Education
Troost-Ekong grew up between different cultures. His Nigerian heritage came from his father, while his Dutch background came from his mother.
His early football development included time in England, where he attended Hockerill Anglo-European College in Bishop’s Stortford. He also spent time in the youth systems of Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur.
Those experiences helped expose him to different football environments at a young age.
Rather than taking a straightforward route into top-level professional football, Troost-Ekong developed gradually. He eventually returned to the Netherlands and began making progress towards senior football.
This international and multicultural upbringing later became an important part of his identity as a Nigerian footballer playing in Europe and beyond.
William Troost-Ekong Football Career
Troost-Ekong’s professional career began in the Netherlands with FC Groningen, where he made his senior debut.
His early career involved loan and transfer moves as he searched for regular first-team football. He subsequently played for FC Dordrecht and Norwegian club FK Haugesund before joining Belgian side KAA Gent.
He later moved to Turkey, where he played for Bursaspor. His performances there helped attract attention from clubs in one of Europe’s strongest football leagues.
Udinese Career
In 2018, Troost-Ekong moved to Italian Serie A club Udinese.
Playing in Italy was an important stage of his development. Serie A has traditionally placed significant emphasis on defensive organisation and tactical awareness, making the experience valuable for a centre-back.
His time at Udinese helped establish him as a defender capable of competing at a high level in European football.
Watford Career
Troost-Ekong moved to English club Watford in 2020.
His arrival gave him an opportunity to play in English football after several years in continental Europe. He became part of Watford’s defensive setup and scored his first goal for the club against Coventry City in November 2020.
He spent several seasons connected with the club before leaving for another spell in Italy.
Salernitana
In January 2023, Troost-Ekong joined Salernitana on loan from Watford.
The move brought him back to Serie A, where he had previously played with Udinese. Although the spell was relatively short, it added another chapter to his experience in Italian football.
PAOK
In July 2023, Troost-Ekong joined Greek club PAOK on a permanent transfer.
His time in Greece became one of the most successful periods of his club career. He helped PAOK win the Greek Super League during the 2023–24 season.
That achievement came shortly after one of the biggest individual moments of his international career at AFCON 2023.
Al-Kholood
In August 2024, Troost-Ekong moved to Saudi Arabia to join Al-Kholood.
The transfer marked another change in football culture and competition for the experienced defender. His move to Saudi Arabia also reflected the growing number of established international players choosing clubs in the Gulf region.
Al-Ahli Qatar
In January 2026, Troost-Ekong moved from Saudi Arabia to Al-Ahli SC in Qatar.
Current player databases list him as an Al-Ahli centre-back and show a contract running until June 30, 2028.
This means that, at 33, Troost-Ekong remains active in professional club football despite having retired from international football.
William Troost-Ekong’s Nigeria Career
Troost-Ekong made his senior debut for Nigeria in 2015.
Before choosing Nigeria, he had represented the Netherlands at youth level. His decision to play for the Super Eagles allowed him to connect with his Nigerian roots on the international stage.
He quickly became an important member of the national team.
One of the earliest major highlights came at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he represented Nigeria’s Olympic team and helped the country win a bronze medal.
He later became a regular at major senior tournaments.
Troost-Ekong represented Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and played at multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
He was part of Nigeria’s AFCON campaigns in 2019, 2021 and 2023, gaining increasing responsibility as his international career developed.
Troost-Ekong at AFCON 2023
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was arguably the defining tournament of Troost-Ekong’s international career.
Nigeria reached the final, with Troost-Ekong playing a central role in the team’s defensive structure. He also contributed important goals during the competition.
CAF records show that he became the first defender or full-back in the period covered by Opta’s AFCON data to score three goals in a single edition of the tournament.
Nigeria eventually lost the final 2–1 to hosts Côte d’Ivoire. Troost-Ekong scored Nigeria’s goal in the final.
Despite Nigeria finishing as runners-up, CAF named him the TotalEnergies Best Player of the Tournament.
He was also selected in CAF’s official Team of the Tournament.
This achievement was particularly notable because individual AFCON awards are often dominated by attacking players. Troost-Ekong’s recognition demonstrated the impact he had as both a defender and leader.
Why Is William Troost-Ekong Famous?
Troost-Ekong is famous for several reasons.
First, he has enjoyed a long professional career across numerous countries. He has played in major European leagues, including Serie A and the English football system, as well as clubs in Greece and the Middle East.
Second, he became a prominent member and captain of the Nigerian national team.
Third, his performances at AFCON 2023 elevated his profile significantly. Winning the tournament’s Best Player award as a central defender was a major personal achievement.
CAF has continued to describe him as one of Nigeria’s defining defenders of the modern era, highlighting his leadership, composure and reliability at centre-back.
Who Is William Troost-Ekong’s Wife?
William Troost-Ekong is married to Molly.
Reports have stated that the couple married in a private ceremony in London in 2021 after being together for several years. They have children together.
Troost-Ekong generally keeps his family life more private than his football career. As a result, there is considerably more publicly available information about his professional achievements than about his wife and children.
For that reason, it is better to avoid treating unverified social-media claims about his family as established facts.
Does William Troost-Ekong Have Children?
Yes. Public reports have stated that Troost-Ekong and Molly have children, including a son named Oscar and a daughter named Zara.
However, the footballer has generally maintained a relatively private approach to his family life. Most of his public profile focuses on football, his Nigerian heritage, charity work and his professional achievements.
What Is William Troost-Ekong’s Salary?
William Troost-Ekong’s exact current salary at Al-Ahli has not been officially published in a reliable public source.
This is an important distinction because many websites publish football salary estimates, but estimated wages are not the same as confirmed contract figures.
Older reports about his earnings at PAOK suggested that he was earning close to £1 million per year, but those figures relate to an earlier contract and should not be presented as his current salary.
Salary databases have also published different estimates for his historical earnings. For example, SalarySport lists a career wage total based on its recorded contracts, while noting that it reports career earnings rather than a verified personal net worth.
Therefore, the safest conclusion is that William Troost-Ekong is a highly paid professional footballer, but his current Al-Ahli salary has not been officially confirmed publicly.
What Is William Troost-Ekong’s Net Worth?
William Troost-Ekong’s exact net worth is not publicly verified.
Some entertainment and sports websites have published specific net-worth figures, including estimates running into several million pounds. However, these figures should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed financial statements.
A footballer’s net worth can include much more than wages. It may involve:
- Club salary
- Signing bonuses
- Performance bonuses
- Sponsorship agreements
- Investments
- Property
- Business interests
- Other personal assets
At the same time, taxes, agents’ fees, living expenses and other financial commitments can reduce the amount a player actually retains.
For this reason, it is more accurate to say that Troost-Ekong has earned substantial income from a long professional football career, but there is no independently verified public figure for his current net worth.
One salary database estimates his recorded career wages at more than $14 million, although this is a wage estimate and should not be confused with net worth.
William Troost-Ekong’s International Retirement
In December 2025, Troost-Ekong announced his retirement from international football.
The decision brought an end to a decade-long Nigeria career. CAF reported that his final appearance for the Super Eagles came in Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff defeat to DR Congo.
By the end of his international career, he had established himself as one of Nigeria’s most experienced defenders and had taken on the responsibility of captaincy.
His decision allowed him to concentrate on club football while closing an important chapter of his career with the national team.
William Troost-Ekong’s Major Achievements
Troost-Ekong has collected several notable achievements throughout his career.
Some of the most important include:
- AFCON 2023 Best Player
- AFCON 2023 runner-up with Nigeria
- AFCON 2023 Team of the Tournament
- Greek Super League champion with PAOK
- 2016 Olympic bronze medal with Nigeria
- 2018 FIFA World Cup appearance
- Multiple AFCON appearances
- Long-term leadership role with the Nigeria national team
His AFCON 2023 award is arguably his most significant individual honour. CAF officially named him the tournament’s Best Player after Nigeria reached the final.
William Troost-Ekong’s Playing Style
As a centre-back, Troost-Ekong’s main responsibilities are to stop opposition attackers, organise the defence and help his team build play from the back.
His height gives him an advantage in aerial situations, while his experience has helped him deal with different tactical systems.
He has also shown an unusual ability for a defender to contribute goals at major tournaments. His three goals at AFCON 2023 were particularly important to Nigeria’s run to the final.
His leadership has been another important part of his game. Captaining Nigeria placed additional responsibility on him, especially during high-pressure international matches.
William Troost-Ekong and His Nigerian Heritage
Although Troost-Ekong was born in the Netherlands, he has consistently embraced his Nigerian roots.
His father’s Nigerian heritage connects him to Akwa Ibom State, and the defender has spoken publicly about his relationship with Nigeria and his desire to contribute to the country beyond football.
His journey is also an example of how footballers with dual cultural backgrounds can develop in one country and later represent another at senior international level.
For Nigerian football supporters, his career represents a successful combination of European football development and Nigerian international identity.
Where Is William Troost-Ekong Now?
As of 2026, William Troost-Ekong plays for Al-Ahli SC in Qatar.
He joined the club in January 2026, and current player records list his contract through June 2028.
Although he retired from international football in 2025, he remains active at club level.
At 33, his experience continues to be valuable, particularly for teams looking for an established central defender with experience in international tournaments and several competitive leagues.
Frequently Asked Questions About William Troost-Ekong
How old is William Troost-Ekong?
William Troost-Ekong was born on September 1, 1993. He is 33 years old as of September 2026.
Where was William Troost-Ekong born?
He was born in Haarlem, Netherlands.
What position does William Troost-Ekong play?
He primarily plays as a centre-back.
Which club does William Troost-Ekong play for?
He currently plays for Al-Ahli SC in Qatar. His current contract is listed as running until June 2028.
Who is William Troost-Ekong’s wife?
His wife is Molly. The couple reportedly married in London in 2021.
Does William Troost-Ekong have children?
Yes. Public reports say he has children with his wife, Molly.
What is William Troost-Ekong’s net worth?
His exact net worth has not been independently verified. Figures published online should therefore be regarded as estimates rather than confirmed financial information.
How much does William Troost-Ekong earn?
His current Al-Ahli salary has not been officially confirmed publicly. Previous salary estimates relate to earlier clubs and contracts and should not be presented as his current wage.
Why is William Troost-Ekong famous?
He is best known for his career with Nigeria, his leadership as a Super Eagles defender and his outstanding performance at AFCON 2023, where he was named Player of the Tournament.
When did William Troost-Ekong retire from international football?
He announced his retirement from international football in December 2025 after a decade with the Nigerian national team.