The Proven Winner Bringing European Pedigree to Brisbane
Bente Jansen is a highly decorated Dutch forward and proven winner who has established herself at the highest level of football in the Netherlands. Regarded as a “huge coup” for Brisbane Roar, she arrives in her prime after a career spent accumulating championships with Eredivisie powerhouses FC Twente and AFC Ajax. A modern, multifaceted attacker, Jansen combines fantastic technical ability, leadership, and a significant physical presence with a mentality forged through consistent success. Her move to the A-League Women marks the first time she has ventured outside the Dutch football system, bringing invaluable UEFA Women’s Champions League experience to her new club.
The Story So Far
Bente Jansen’s career path is a study in deliberate progression, from an elite youth foundation to domestic dominance and now, an international challenge. Her formative years were spent in high-performance environments, starting at Nieuw Sloten before joining the prestigious CTO Amsterdam talent center in 2013. This selection for the “Centrum voor Topsport en Onderwijs,” a Dutch Olympic Committee initiative, marked her as one of the nation’s most promising young athletes and was instrumental in developing the “fantastic technical foundation” that defines her play.
In 2016, Jansen made her professional debut for FC Twente, beginning a seven-season dynasty. She became an integral part of one of the club’s most dominant periods, accumulating over 100 appearances and forging a “winning mentality.” Her tenure was laden with silverware, including three Eredivisie league titles, a KNVB Women’s Cup, a Dutch Super Cup, and two Eredivisie Cups.
Seeking a new challenge, she transferred to the iconic AFC Ajax in 2023, a move to one of Europe’s most famous institutions. At Ajax, she added another KNVB Women’s Cup to her collection and, crucially, gained invaluable experience at the highest level of European club football, competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and helping the squad reach the quarter-finals.
After her contract with Ajax concluded in June 2025, Jansen made the bold decision to move abroad for the first time, signing as a high-profile international for Brisbane Roar. Hailed as a “huge coup” by her new club, Jansen was drawn to an “ambitious playing style” and has stated her clear objective: “I want to make a direct impact on the field and help the team with my experience.”
Style of Play & Tactical Analysis
Bente Jansen’s on-field profile is that of a modern, multifaceted attacker who blends technical elegance with a significant physical presence and the intangible qualities of a serial winner. She is not defined by a single attribute but by a versatile skill set that makes her an unpredictable asset in the final third.
Primarily operating as a right winger, Jansen is versatile enough to be deployed across the front line. At 178 cm (5’10”), she possesses a height and frame uncommon for a wide player, giving her a distinct physical advantage in aerial duels and in shielding the ball. At Brisbane Roar, she has been signed to be a “new attacking weapon,” tasked with being a primary contributor to the team’s offensive output in a proactive, ambitious system.
Her core strengths form a complete attacking package:
- Fantastic Technical Ability: This is her defining characteristic, a direct product of her elite Dutch youth training. It’s evident in her close control, dribbling, and passing, and was repeatedly highlighted by her new club upon her signing.
- Experience and Leadership: Now in her prime at 26, Jansen combines peak physical conditioning with years of high-level experience, including competing in the latter stages of the Champions League. She brings tactical intelligence, composure, and is expected to be a leader on the pitch.
- Winning Mentality: Jansen is, simply, a “proven winner.” Her career is decorated with silverware from two different top-tier clubs, instilling in her the psychological strength and expectation to win high-stakes matches.
- Physical and Aerial Presence: Her height makes her a dual threat. While a technical player on the ground, she is also a recognized aerial strength, making her a dangerous target for crosses and set-pieces.
- Creative Distribution: Jansen is not just a ball-carrier; she is a precise and effective distributor, noted for her high-end crossing ability and technical passing range.
Future Outlook
Having conquered the Dutch domestic scene and gained top-tier European experience, Bente Jansen arrives in Australia in the prime of her career. As a high-profile international signing for Brisbane Roar, the expectation is clear: she is there to be a leader and a primary attacking weapon. Her immediate future is focused on translating her technical quality and winning mentality to the A-League Women, with the stated goal of making a “direct impact” and helping the Roar achieve “great goals.” Her successful integration, already marked by a pre-season goal, will be pivotal to her team’s ambitions for the 2025-26 season.
The Trophy Case (Honours)
Team Honours
- With FC Twente:
- Eredivisie Champion (3): 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22
- KNVB Women’s Cup (1): 2022–23
- Eredivisie Cup (2): 2021–22, 2022–23
- Dutch Super Cup (1): 2022
- With AFC Ajax:
- KNVB Women’s Cup (1): 2023–24
The Record (Career Statistics)
| Season | Club | Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2016–17 | FC Twente | Eredivisie | 18 | 2 | N/A |
| Champions League | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | FC Twente | Eredivisie | 3 | 3 | N/A |
| 2018–19 | FC Twente | Eredivisie | 22 | 5 | 0 |
| 2019–20 | FC Twente | Eredivisie | 12 | 3 | N/A |
| Champions League | 7 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | FC Twente | Eredivisie | 19 | 1 | 5 |
| KNVB Beker Women | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | FC Twente | Eredivisie | 12 | 3 | 2 |
| Champions League | 3 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23 | FC Twente | Eredivisie | 17 | 2 | 1 |
| KNVB Beker Women | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||
| Eredivisie Cup | 3 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Super Cup Women | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Champions League | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | AFC Ajax | Eredivisie | 15 | 3 | 1 |
| KNVB Beker Women | 3 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Champions League | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Eredivisie Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Super Cup Women | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | AFC Ajax | Eredivisie | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| Champions League | 1 | 0 | 0 |