Background
Leerdam was born in Paramaribo, the capital and largest city of Suriname. Leerdam has a close relationship with his mother and has got one younger sister.
Leerdam was born in Paramaribo, the capital and largest city of Suriname. Leerdam has a close relationship with his mother and has got one younger sister.
Youth career
Leerdam started his career at local Utrecht club United States Volunteers Elinkwijk. Feyenoord followed the midfielder for many years and eventually joined the Feyenoord youth academy in the season 2005-2006. Coming from an amateur side, Leerdam had a difficult start in the Feyenoord youth.
The first two seasons he was mainly used as a substitute.
Leerdam joined a successful generation in Feyenoord U17, where he had to compete with players like Leroy Fer, Georginio Wijnaldum and Kevin Wattamaleo for a place on the midfield. After two years, when other players took their chance on a higher level, Leerdam became a regular starter in the U19 team
Thanks to his hard work and dedication, Leerdam eventually made it to Feyenoord"s first team squad as well. In January 2007, Leerdam was invited to the first team"s training camp in Belek, Turkey, by Feyenoord manager Erwin Koeman.
On 6 June 2008, Leerdam signed his first professional contract until 2011.
Feyenoord
= Breakthrough (2008–2009) Leerdam had his breakthrough in the season 2008-2009. On 13 November 2008, Leerdam made his official debut in Feyenoord"s first team Leerdam made his Eredivisie debut on 16 November 2008.
Leerdam replaced Georginio Wijnaldum in the 87th minute in the away match against Football Club Twente (1–1).
On 27 November 2008, Leerdam also made his European debut. On 1 February 2009, Leerdam had a place in the starting line-up for the first time.
When Giovanni van Bronckhorst got injured during the warm-up before the Eredivisie match against North.E.C., Leerdam replaced him as left back. On 12 April 2009, Leerdam made his first and only goal for Feyenoord, in the home match against Heracles Almelo.
= Stand-in (2009–2013) In the season 2009-2010, Leerdam was candidate to leave Feyenoord on loan for Excelsior.
Vitesse
On 14 January 2013, he signed a pre-contract deal with Vitesse Arnhem. On 2 July, it was announced that Leerdam signed a three-year deal with the Arnhem club