Plymouth Argyle will feel an element of surprise at Wolves developments | OneFootball

Plymouth Argyle fans may be surprised that Nigel Lonwijk is still in League One, following a successful loan spell with the club 2 years ago.

Nigel Lonwijk was a stalwart on loan at Plymouth Argyle in their 2022-23 League One winning campaign, but hasn't gone on be as successful as some might've expected since then.

The Dutch defender impressed on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers at Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie in 2021-22, which saw him snapped up by Argyle the following summer.

Lonwijk's first taste of the EFL was a huge success, as he established himself as one of the best defenders in League One, and helped his loan club to win the division with an excellent 101 points.

However, after returning to Molineux off the back of his success at Plymouth, the former PSV Eindhoven man suffered a gutting injury setback in his next loan spell with Zurich-based club Grasshopper.

Sadly, repeat injuries seem to have prevented Lonwijk from progressing to the next level of his career, as he's had to deal with a few major setbacks in recent years.

Nigel Lonwijk's wonderful Plymouth Argyle loan spell

The 2022-23 season was one beyond any Argyle fan's wildest dreams, as the Pilgrims finally clinched a return to the Championship for the first time since 2010.

One of the stars of the season was the unknown defender who arrived on loan from Wolves in the summer. Lonwijk had just one season of senior football in the Netherlands under his belt when he arrived at Home Park.

Not much was known about the defender, but Plymouth fans would soon take to their new signing, similarly to how he quickly took to life in the EFL.

Lonwijk slotted into Argyle's back three perfectly, fitting in well alongside the likes of Dan Scarr, James Wilson, and Macauley Gillesphey. The Dutchman impressed with his strength, pace, aerial ability, and versatility, which saw him become a stalwart in Steven Schumacher's back line.

The then-20-year-old played 35 times out of a possible 46 in League One, 28 of which were starts. He ended his first season in English football with a league winners' medal to his name, and a great platform to build upon.

Some Argyle fans may have expected him to go on and continue progressing up the English footballing ladder, but sadly that wouldn't be the case for Lonwijk.

The powerful centre-back didn't return to Home Park to take on the Championship challenge, opting for a move to the Swiss Super League with Grasshopper, alongside fellow Wolves prospect Theo Corbeanu.

Unfortunately, two hamstring injuries meant Lonwijk played just a single game for the Swiss club, before returning to his parent club in November 2023.

After his recovery, he signed on loan for League One strugglers Wycombe Wanderers on deadline day of the winter transfer window. He once again found form, helping the Chairboys recover to a tenth-place finish.

The next move for the two-time EFL Trophy runner-up was once again in League One with relegated Huddersfield Town, who were one of the favourites for promotion.

However, his game time at the John Smith's Stadium was hampered once again by hamstring injuries. He suffered two setbacks in his time with the Terriers, which limited him to just 21 appearances for the club.

Having barely featured in 2025, it's unclear what the future holds for Lonwijk this summer. He could be in line for another loan move away, or potentially even depart Wolves permanently if they feel he doesn't have a future at the club.

It's such a shame to see the setbacks the 22-year-old has suffered, especially having shown his quality at every opportunity he's been given. These hamstring injuries have prevented him from reaching the next level in his career.

After such a successful loan spell, it would likely be a shock to a Plymouth fan if you told them two years ago that in 2025, Lonwijk would still be playing League One football.