Who is Noa Lang

Noa Lang was born on June 17, 1999. He currently plays as a left winger at PSV Eindhoven. Lang started his career at Feyenoord, then Ajax, but broke through at Club Brugge, where he excelled and became a regular. His dribbling skills and speed make him a dangerous player. Lang already plays for the Dutch national team and is known for his confident, sometimes controversial personality. Nowadays he plays for PSV Eindhoven

I am an Ajax fan

A heart of gold, if you believe the people who know him. The former Feyenoord talent, ex Ajax prospect and current PSV start got the MoTM award in a game inwhich a certain Leo Messi played as well.

So, when you’re 6 year old and you live close to Rotterdam and Feyenoord knocks on the door. What do you? You go. But in Lang’s case, he decided he didn’t want the Feyenoord sports bag. Why not, was his dad’s question. “Because I am an Ajax fan,” the blond lightning strike answered.

Noa Langs talent

He was a remarkable talent, at his age. “He would shoot balls at me that I simply couldn’t stop. So hard. And when he played his first game when he was five years old, he went about his business with sliding after sliding. “I will never forget a match for the title. Noa played in a team with older and bigger players. One of the opponent kids, a tall player, went alone to score the winner against Lang. He jumped on the kid’s back and hung on his shorts and that guy scored the goal with Noa Lang hanging on his shorts, hahahaha.”

Noa was influenced by Edgar Davids, that much was clear. He would play through the pain and never complained. “If I asked him if he wanted to come to the cinema, he would usually say: I can’t dad, I need to train!”

His mother divorced his dad and got into a relationship with Ajax forward Nordin Boukhari. “He was so excited when he learned I played for Ajax. He would come with me to matches always. He was completely obsessed.”

Boukhari played his football with FC Nantes and Besiktas as well and little Noa would briefly play his junior football at these clubs as well.

When he was 13 years old, his dad asked him again: “If you are really an Ajax kid, why do you stay at Feyenoord?”

Noa Lang to Ajax

And off they went. Noa Lang became an Ajax player in 2013. The head strong and articulated fellow would get himself into trouble regularly. Not by being a pest, but simply by asking questions or maybe by being a bit of a smart-ass. His mum: “He’s not trouble, but he’s outspoken and sees through fakeness. But he’s loyal and very honest. A social kid who really values family. And he will definitely sacrifice everything for his sport.”

Noa was always close to Ajax players, as a result of his step dad being part of the squad with Sneijder, Heitinga and Nigel de Jong. It was normal for him to be amongst these guys and he ended up collecting shirts from players like Van Persie and players from Ajax opponents. He once got the Bastian Schweinsteiger shirt, one of his fave players, but he would call him Einsteiger. He simply liked that name better.

Leen Boer, his coach in the Under8s: “He got into my squad and immediately told me honestly: coach I like Ajax. I didn’t care, I said he would probably change that preference in a couple of months. But he didn’t. But what a player he was. He scored the most amazing goals. And even now, when I see him, he will always come up for a hug and some smalltalk. A great kid.”

His dad: “At home it was all Ajax. Posters on his wall, PJs, his bedding, Ajax Ajax. One day he went to Feyenoord for training, wearing his Ajax shirt. That is when Feyenoord told him: ok, this is taking it too far!”

Eventually, Feyenoord allowed to let him go to Ajax.

When Lang was 16, disaster hit. A back injury became so severe that the medical pros feared for his career. He was struggling with it for years already. Living with a brace for a long spell eventually helped him to “fix” his back. His recovery was almost miraculous.

His C1 season was not that great, but when he got into the Under17s he had Richard Witschge as his coach.

Witschge told Lang he was considered arrogant, even if he wasn’t. But his mannerisms, his hand gestures, you will make it hard on yourself. And Richard knew all about that. They had a similar type of personality. And Witschge would call him out if he had to. Call him ‘asshole’ in front of the group and usually Noa would accept a dressing down.

His mother, Manon: “He plays for the fans. As a kid he would sometimes be more enthralled with the action on the stands and I can tell when he’s showing off for the fans and when he starts to become cocky. He loves to hear the ooohs and aaahs. And when I try to talk to him about it, he is all like “don’t worry mum, I know what I’m doing”. He feels no pressure.”

Lang would make his debut in Ajax 1 but felt there was not enough future for him at Ajax, after a couple of clashes with captain Dujan Tadic and coach Erik ten Hag. Despite this, Ajax wanted to offer the youngster a 4 year deal, but the feeling was gone. Lang wanted out. Leeds United was interested, but a loan spell to Club Brugge resulted in a firm transfer to the Belgium champs.

Noa Lang at Club Brugge

It all goes fast for that time 22 year old Noa. Lang’s performance in the Champions League got people taking notice. With Mbappe, Messi and Neymar on the pitch, it was Lang who got the headlines and the MoTM award.

There was no player in the first CL round with more attempts on goal (6) and he had a higher Expected Goals value than goal scorer Vanaken.

Why did it work at Club Brugge and not at Ajax? Noa Lang himself: “I was given more freedom in Belgium. The coach kunderstood what served his game best. The Ajax set up is more rigid. As a winger at Ajax, you have to stay on the wing. Whenever I drifted inwards, I would get told off. But that is not me, I am not a winger. They always play young players there because it’s an easier and less demanding role but it’s not me.”

Coach Clement uses Lang in different roles but he always has the freedom to roam. He can play right winger and drift inwards for an attempt on his left foot. But he can also cross balls in to Bas Dost or start from the left, in a Memphis-type role.

Lang’s image in The Netherlands is that of a complacent, somewhat arrogant difficult kid. In Belgium, they can’t understand any of it, as he’s the model pro there. A team player with amazing stats. His image in Holland was probably fueled by on camera spats with the likes of Tadic and Ten Hag during a couple of friendlies.

Noa Lang’s Impactful Journey at PSV Eindhoven

When Noa Lang joined PSV Eindhoven in July 2023, expectations were sky-high. The flamboyant Dutch winger arrived from Club Brugge, bringing flair, confidence, and a hunger to shine on the Eredivisie stage. It didn’t take long for Lang to make his mark—scoring the winning goal on his debut in the Johan Cruyff Shield against Feyenoord, instantly endearing himself to the PSV faithful.

Wearing the iconic number 7 shirt, Lang brought a mix of creativity and unpredictability to PSV’s attack. In his first season (2023–24), he was a key contributor despite some injury setbacks, finishing with 5 goals and 1 assist across all competitions. His ability to beat defenders, create space, and influence games became clear, even in limited appearances.

The 2024–25 season saw Lang step up as one of PSV’s standout players. He racked up 11 Eredivisie goals and 10 assists, playing a pivotal role in their attacking setup. In Europe, Lang featured prominently in the Champions League, showcasing his talent on the continental stage. His dribbling ability, vision, and left-footed finesse drew comparisons to elite-level wingers, and speculation about a potential big-money move soon followed (speculations of Napoli ).

However, Lang’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Fitness issues and moments of inconsistency occasionally hampered his rhythm at PSV. Yet, his resilience and passion continue to win fans over—especially after helping PSV secure back-to-back Eredivisie titles.

Noa Lang at  Oranje

Lang’s national team trajectory mirrors his club ascent. Earning his Oranje debut in 2021 under Louis van Gaal, he has since amassed 14 caps and scored 3 goals by mid-2025. Highlights include his first goal in June 2022 during a vital Nations League clash, followed by another strike at the 2023 finals . Most recently, he found the net again during a dominant 6‑0 victory in the June 10, 2025 World Cup qualifier.

What Lies Ahead

At just 25, Lang is entering his prime. He’s established himself as a cornerstone in PSV’s front line and is gradually becoming more influential at international level. If he maintains form and fitness, an even bigger role in Oranje’s Euro/World Cup ambitions seems likely.