First Team Squad

Player profile and performance records.

Joel Piroe (Striker)

Squad Number: 9
Position: Striker
Born: 2nd Aug 1999 (Wijchen, Netherlands)
Signed: 19th Aug 2026 (£1,000,000)
Contract: Season-long loan (purchase obligation)
Previous Club: Leeds United

KUMB Awards: None.

Born in the Netherlands to an Indo-Surinamese father and a Dutch mother, Piroe plays for the Suriname national team.

Piroe started playing football at the age of five for SCE Nijmegen and played youth football for Quick 1888 and SC Woezik, after which he was signed to the youth academy of NEC. He first played as a left-back and left midfielder.

He then moved to the youth academy of Feyenoord, and a year later - in 2014 - joined the PSV academy. He signed his first professional contract with the Eindhoven-based club in November 2016.

Piroe made his professional debut in the Eerste Divisie for Jong PSV on 2 December 2016 in a game against Achilles '29.

PSV sent Piroe on a one-year loan to Sparta Rotterdam in August 2019. He made his debut in the Eredivisie on 25 August 2019, coming on for Ragnar Ache in the 60th minute away against PEC Zwolle - a game which ended in a 2-2 draw.

On 2 July 2021, Piroe joined Swansea City on a three-year deal, joining for an undisclosed fee, reported to be in the region of ??1 million with the potential to rise up to ??2 million. He scored on his Swansea debut in an EFL Cup tie against Reading on 10 August 2021.

On 24 August 2023, Leeds United signed Piroe on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be above £10 million. He scored on his Leeds debut against Ipswich on 26 August 2023 in a 4-3 victory.

He was awarded the Golden Boot for the 2024/25 season after scoring a league-high 19 goals with Leeds. On 19 August 2026. Piroe joined West Ham on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy.

Piroe represented the Netherlands at youth international level. In January 2026 he switched his international allegiance to Suriname, making his international debut in March of that year, starting in a 2-1 defeat against Bolivia in the World Cup qualification inter-confederation play-offs.

2025/26 Match Notes & Ratings

vs Bolton Wanderers

3-2: Tuesday, 8th September
(Played 23 minutes, sub)

(Pablo 67') Missed his big chance.

vs Derby County

3-0: Saturday, 5th September
(Played 90 minutes)

Great movement and awareness for the first goal, the easy finish down to his instincts in the box. He wasn't as involved after, but you can see why he's going to be important. It feels that he has these classic and decisive striker moments once a game.

vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

4-2: Tuesday, 1st September
(Played 56 minutes)

Simple and effective play to win the penalty, his close control and willingness to take the ball with his back to goal and turn makes him a useful focal point.

vs Southampton

4-1: Tuesday, 25th August
(Played 90 minutes)

Still getting sharper, but he showed himself capable of leading the line alone. The swivel pass that got Mukasa free on the first goal was excellent striker play, and he should have been awarded a penalty moments after. Encouraging signs in his first two games.

vs Charlton Athletic

1-2: Saturday, 22nd August
(Played 90 minutes)

A goal on debut would usually give someone a shot at man of the match, but Piroe was a lumbering old man up front. Watching him move, you could feel the joints clicking and whining at the effort of travelling five yards. Immobile and slow, he's going to have to score a lot of goals to be worth accepting the rest. However, having barely played for a year, he may be due some grace and patience.