Ryan Jared Thomas (born 20 December 1994) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle and the New Zealand national team.
Thomas played for various clubs across the Waikato region of New Zealand, before signing professional terms with Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle in 2013. Since then, Thomas has spent his footballing career in the Netherlands, signing for reigning champions PSV Eindhoven in 2018.
Club career New Zealand Thomas was born in Te Puke, New Zealand, attended Tauranga Boys' College and played his youth football at Mount Maunganui Tauranga City AFC and Waikato club Melville United in the NRFL Premier. He made his debut off the bench on 30 July 2011, alongside fellow current professional Jesse Edge, and scored in the 3–1 win against Forrest Hill Milford.
Thomas was announced as part of the squad for New Zealand Football Championship side Waikato FC at the beginning of the 2011–12 season, joining other future New Zealand international Tyler Boyd.
Thomas was later convinced by his previous Waikato FC manager, Declan Edge, to leave his current side to join the Olé Football Academy in Wellington, along with several other Waikato players. During this time, Thomas played for the Olé Academy-affiliated club Western Suburbs. Noting Thomas' exceptional talent, Edge organised a trial for the 18-year-old at Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle.
PEC Zwolle Following a successful trial period in the Netherlands, Thomas signed for PEC Zwolle in September 2013, and made his debut for the club on 30 October 2013 against amateur side Wilhelmina '08 in the third round of the KNVB Cup, scoring the first goal in a 4–0 win. He quickly became a key winger for the club; his successful debut season culminated in winning the KNVB Cup, with Thomas scoring two goals in the final in a 5–1 win over AFC Ajax.
Thomas continued to impress for PEC Zwolle in the following seasons following his transition to a holding midfielder, with his rise being compared to that of Dutch legend Arjen Robben by former manager Ron Jans. In a 2017 interview, Jans stated that "it would not surprise me if he ended up at Real Madrid".
PSV On 10 August 2018, Thomas joined reigning Eredivisie champions PSV for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract. The move was described by former New Zealand and Eredivisie footballer Ivan Vicelich as one of the biggest deals ever by a New Zealander. Just days after signing, however, Thomas sustained a knee injury in training; originally thought to be only a minor sprain, it was later discovered to be a serious anterior cruciate ligament tear, meaning Thomas spent the rest of the season sidelined. As part of his rehabilitation, Thomas spent time working with Olympic swimming champion Pieter van den Hoogenband.
On 6 October 2019, after 14 months out injured, Thomas finally made his debut for PSV as an 85th minute substitute for Érick Gutiérrez in a 4−1 win over VVV Venlo.
After four injury-riddled seasons, during which he had four surgeries on his knee in total, Thomas was released by PSV in June 2022.
Return to PEC Zwolle On 26 October 2022, Dutch side PEC Zwolle now playing in the Eerste Divisie announced that they had re-signed Thomas. In August 2024, it was announced that PEC Zwolle had extended Thomas’s contract until mid-2025.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsWaikato2011–12NZ Premiership133——321652012–1351———51Total184——32216PEC Zwolle2013–14Eredivisie19153——2442014–153035120103842015–1612200——1222016–1731120——3312017–1831130——341Total1238154201014112PSV2019–20Eredivisie1121030—1522020–211612060—2412021–22610030—91Total33430120—484PEC Zwolle2022–23Eerste Divisie18010——1902023–24Eredivisie7000——702024–2517000——1702025–2627110——2812026–270000——00Total69120——711Career total242172041404228123
International career Thomas made his international debut for New Zealand when he played in a 2–4 friendly loss to Japan in March 2014. He scored his first international goals on 28 March 2017, netting a brace in a 2–0 win over Fiji.
International goals Scores and results list New Zealand's goal tally first.
+ List of international goals scored by Ryan ThomasNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition 1. 28 March 2017 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand 1–0 2–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 2. 2–0 3. 1 September 2017 North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand 4–1 6–1
Honours Club Waikato FC NZF Cup runner-up: 2011–12
PEC Zwolle KNVB Cup: 2014; runner-up 2015 Johan Cruijff Shield: 2014 Eerste Divisie; runner-up 2022–23 (promoted)
International OFC U-20 Championship: 2013
Individual Oceania Footballer of the Year, 2015 IFFHS OFC Men's Team of the Decade 2011–2020 IFFHS Oceania Men's Team of All Time: 2021
References
External links