The Belgian international has become the fourth signing of the summer for Nick Cushing’s side.
Here’s ten key facts about the 25-year old...
1: Born and bred
Tessa was born on March 19, 1993 in Tielt, Belgium.
2: Early days
Tessa began her career with SV Zulte Waragem who play in the Belgian First Division. She spent four years with the club between 2008 and 2012.
3: Joint venture
For the 2012/13 campaign, following the formation of a joint league between Belgium and the Netherlands called the BeNe League, Tessa made the move to join RSC Anderlecht. She made 15 appearances for the club that season, scoring six goals.
4: Silver salvo
During that season with the Belgian side, Tessa won the first major silverware of her career. Anderlecht lifted the Belgian Cup, beating WB Sinaai Girls 3-0 in the final after extra time
5: Call of duty
Having previously represented Belgium at Under-15s, Under-17s and Under-19s level, in 2011 Tessa was part of the Belgium squad which took part in the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championships. Later that summer she won her first senior cap in a friendly against Russia.
6: On the move
After a year with Anderlecht, Tessa was on the move once again in the summer of 2013, making the switch to join another top Belgian side, Standard Liege. She enjoyed a tremendous first season, scoring 16 league goals and being part of a Belgian Cup-winning side once again.
7: Lethal weapon
In her second season with Standard, Tessa’s goal-scoring prowess saw her go from strength to strength and she ended the season having notched up 18 league goals.
8: Double delight
That hugely impressive goal return over the course of the 2013/14 campaign not only saw Tessa help Standard Liege be crowned BeNe league champions but also earned her an award for finishing as the BeNe league’s top scorer.
9: German switch
After two seasons plying her trade with Standard Liege, Tessa was on the move again in the summer of 2015, linking up VfL Wolfsburg of Germany. In her time with the club, she enjoyed Bundesliga title success in 2017 as well as winning the DFB-Pokal (Women’s Cup) in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Wolfsburg were also twice runners-up in the Women’s Champions League during Tessa’s stint there, losing in the final to French side Olympique Lyon in both 2016 and 2018.
10: National icon
Currently with 71 international caps to her name, Tessa holds the distinction of being Belgium’s all-time leading goal-scorer at international level. She has so far scored a hugely impressive 39 goals having overtaken previous record holder Aline Zeler in 2015.
