Hans Vanaken, born 24 August 1992 (age 33), is a Belgian attacking midfielder whose career has been shaped overwhelmingly at Club Brugge. Wearing number 20, he has become a long-running first-team presence rather than a passing part of the furniture.
His Brugge record explains why. Across 12 seasons he has made 329 league appearances and scored 90 league goals, a return that sits well above the usual output for a midfielder in his role. His best league campaign came in 2019–20, when he scored 13 times in 29 appearances.
Vanaken remains relevant in 2026–27, not merely retained out of habit. He has made 32 appearances in all competitions for Club Brugge this season, scoring six goals, including contributions in Champions League and Pro League play-off football. He has also continued to feature for Belgium, with goals in World Cup and European qualifying appearances.
His market value is around £6m, according to Transfermarkt. By this stage, Vanaken’s career is straightforward to read: a Belgian international midfielder, still active at a high level, and defined above all by a long, productive spell at Club Brugge.
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