Arjen Robben was born in the small town of Bedum in the Netherlands. He came from a working-class family, and his father played football recreationally. From a young age, Robben was notably lean but exceptionally fast, a trait that would become a hallmark of his playing style. He began playing football at the age of six and joined the youth academy of FC Groningen, marking the start of his professional journey.
Robben made his senior debut with FC Groningen, a modest club competing in the Dutch Eredivisie. His talent quickly became apparent as he netted six goals in the 2000–2001 season. His skill and composure on the ball drew attention from top Dutch clubs, and in 2002, he transferred to PSV Eindhoven for a reported fee of €4 million.
At PSV, Robben had an immediate impact, scoring 12 goals in his debut season. He developed a strong partnership with the team’s forwards and helped PSV win the Eredivisie title in 2002–03. His performances piqued the interest of European giants, including Manchester United. Then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly made a bid of €7 million, which PSV declined.
In 2004, Robben signed with Chelsea for a reported €18 million. Despite early injury setbacks, he became a vital part of the squad under manager José Mourinho. During his time at Chelsea, Robben won two English Premier League titles (2004–05, 2005–06) and the FA Cup (2006–07), contributing with his pace and dribbling ability on the flanks.
Though his spell in London was marred by injuries, his contributions were significant in Chelsea’s domestic dominance during that period.
In 2007, Robben transferred to Real Madrid. His tenure in Spain lasted two seasons, during which he helped the club win La Liga in 2007–08. Limited by competition for places and ongoing injuries, Robben moved to Bayern Munich in 2009, where he would soon reach the peak of his career.
Robben’s arrival at Bayern Munich marked the beginning of a highly successful era. He became instrumental for the club, known for his signature move of cutting in from the right wing onto his left foot. Despite missing a crucial penalty against Chelsea in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final—which Bayern lost in a shootout—he redeemed himself the following year.
In 2013, Robben scored the match-winning goal in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, securing his and Bayern’s long-awaited European triumph. This victory completed a treble-winning season for Bayern Munich, including the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal titles.
| Birth Date: | 23 Jan, 1984 |
| Age: | 36 yrs |
| Occupations: | Association football player |
| Citizenship: | Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| Birth Place: | Bedum |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Dutch association football player |
| Net Worth 2021: | 80 million |
