Niels Hartman

Niels Mark Pieter Hartman (born 17 January 2001) is a footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for USL League Two side Ventura County Fusion. Born in the Netherlands, he represents Gibraltar at international level.

Club career
Having moved to Gibraltar as a child due to his parents relocating for work, Hartman spent his youth playing at a number of Spanish youth teams, most notably Unión Estepona and Algeciras. In 2020 he moved to the United Kingdom to study mechanical engineering at Loughborough University, where he also played for their football team, however, the COVID-19 pandemic caused him to pause his studies and return to Gibraltar. Upon his return, he completed the 2020–21 season at Lynx, before spending six months on an internship in the Netherlands, during which time he spent three months in the summer playing for local side VV HSC Hoogezand. In October 2021, he returned to Lynx for the start of the 2021–22 season.

Upon the resumption of his studies, he re-joined Loughborough Students in summer 2022. After 3 goals in 20 appearances during a league campaign which saw the Scholars finish 3rd in the United Counties League Premier North, he moved to the United States to play college soccer for the University of Vermont's side Vermont Catamounts. He played 19 games in his first season, scoring once.

In May 2024 he moved across the States to California to join USL League Two side Ventura County Fusion.

International career
Born in the Netherlands and raised in Gibraltar, Hartman was eligible to represent Gibraltar or the Netherlands. Upon receiving his British Overseas Territory passport, he made his international debut for Gibraltar against his birth country on 27 March 2023, appearing as a late substitute in a 3–0 defeat at De Kuip, just 30 kilometres away from his place of birth.

Personal life
His sister, Iris, plays for the Gibraltar national netball team.