It’s early July and already clubs in the Dutch top flight have been very active in putting squads together ahead of the new campaign. Here is a catch up on what you may have missed.
- By Michael Statham
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ADO den Haag
What have they done so far?
Three wingers have been signed. Ludcinio Marengo has finally joined up with ADO from Volendam after signing a pre-contract in January. Boss Henk Fräser has also smartly picked up Edouard Duplan on a free transfer from Utrecht and Kenji Gorré has come in on loan from Swansea City.
Any more ins or outs?
The losses of strikers Michiel Kramer and Mike van Duinen have hit ADO hard, as now they have no recognised senior striker in their squad. What’s more, Wilfried Kanon has left a hole in defence.
Most importantly a striker or two are needed. Swansea are rumoured to be sending forward Mo Barrow to join Gorré in the Hague.
Matthew Steenvorden and Vitor Rodrigues Saba are on trial too.
Ajax
What have they done so far?
The 33-times Eredivisie champions have been very busy in their plot to dethrone PSV next season. Midfield beast Nemanja Gudelj was signed for 6 million euros from rivals AZ, Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik made his loan permanent and defenders Johnny Heitinga and Mitchell Dijks have re-joined Ajax from Hertha Berlin and Willem II respectively.
In terms of outgoings, young striker Richairo Zivkovic is out on loan, captain Dirk Moisander has left for Italy and midfield flop Niki Zimling’s loan has ended.
Any more ins or outs?
Manager Frank De Boer is still on the look out for a striker to compete with Milik but says “it’s not easy” and won’t buy for the sake of buying. Pione Sisto of Midtjylland has been linked.
There may be more outgoings – Nicolai Boilesen is being linked with Aston Villa and Manchester United are keen on goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.
AZ
What have they done so far?
Key players Gudelj, Hoedt, Esteban and Poulsen have moved on. Assistant manager Marco van Basten has left too.
The incomers up to now include goalkeeper Gino Coutinho, striker Vincent Janssen from Almere and defender Jop van der Linden jumping ship from relegated Go Ahead Eagles.
Any more ins or outs?
Steven Berghuis says he’s happy to stay in Alkmaar but has been heavily linked with PSV this summer. If he does leave, then AZ face yet another challenge replacing an important first-team player. If Berghuis jumps ship then NEC’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh will become a target.
AZ have been quiet the last couple of weeks and manager John van den Brom has hinted that he may look to youth to replace some of the stars that have left. Although he does admit that his side need another defender.
Cambuur
What have they done so far?
A lot. Seven fresh faces have arrived. In defence, left-back Marvin Peersman comes in from relegated Dordrecht and Kai Heerings is a centre-back who has joined from Utrecht.
The midfield has been strengthened by additions such as Sjoerd Overgoor from Go Ahead and Jerge Hoefdraad is a winger who played for Almere City. Manchester City youth player Jack Byrne has been loaned to Cambuur and Dominik Mašek, a player full of potential, will now play in the Netherlands after his release from Hamburg.
Up front, Swedish youth striker Valmir Berisha carries a lot of promise.
Any more ins or outs?
The likes of Bijker, De Ridder and Droste have all been replaced, but Cambuur’s squad still appears a little thin, so don’t rule out another signing or two, especially in defence.
De Graafschap
What have they done so far?
Signed a lot of free transfers from the Jupiler League. So far six new players have signed up, none of them have had any real Eredivisie experience. However with a very small budget, it already looks a very tough season ahead for the newly promoted side.
Defender Tim Linthorst arrives from Vitesse after failing to make the break through there and Youssef El Jebli comes from non-league side Lienden.
Former Twente youth players Thijs Bouma, a right-back, and Alexander Bannink, a midfielder, are welcomed from Almere and Emmen respectively.
Bryan Smeets was a regular midfielder for MVV while Erik Quekel will hope to emulate his fine goalscoring form in the Eredivisie.
Any more ins or outs?
A new left-back is possible to replace Caner Cavlan who left for Heerenveen. The midfield is lacking one or two players as well. A loanee or two from one of the bigger sides could give De Graafschap a little more experience of the top level.
Excelsior
What have they done so far?
Excelsior have picked up winger Brandley Kuwas from Volendam and goalkeeper Filip Kurto from Dordrecht to replace outgoing Gino Coutinho.
Any more ins or outs?
A few more players are needed particularly in midfield. The Kralingers currently have four players on trial: Tom Overtoom, Nigel Hasselbaink, Mike Havekotte and Theo Timmermans.
Jordan Botaka, who impressed last season, is being linked with Swiss side Sion.
Feyenoord
What have they done so far?
Dirk Kuyt has made his almighty return to De Kuip and Marko Vejinović will soften the inevitable blow of losing Jordy Clasie.
Any more ins or outs?
Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has mentioned that he’d like two more centre-backs and a left-back to add competition in his defence. Meanwhile Swedish talent Simon Gustafson has been eyeing up a move to the Rotterdammers.
Clasie still hasn’t left and neither has want-away midfielder Tonny Vilhena. Colin Kazim-Richards looks set to leave too even though he signed on a permanent basis only this summer.
Groningen
What have they done so far?
The KNVB Beker holders have strengthened with two players: left-back Abel Tamata from PSV on a free transfer and winger Bryan Linssen moves from Heracles for 900,000 euros.
Any more ins or outs?
Technical director Peter Jeltema says Groningen’s squad is now complete ahead of the new season, however Tjaronn Chery continues to be linked with a move away from the Euroborg, with Aston Villa showing strong interest.
Heerenveen
What have they done so far?
Heerenveen have captured centre-back Lucas Bijker, who played under manager Dwight Lodeweges while at Cambuur, left-back Caner Cavlan from De Graafschap and midfielder Branco van den Boomen, a 19 year old who caught the eye at Eindhoven.
Any more ins or outs?
Mark Uth and goalkeepers Viktor Noring and Kristoffer Nordfeldt are yet to be replaced, while captain Marten De Roon appears to be off to Italy and fellow midfielder Joey van den Berg is attracting Feyenoord’s attention.
Lodeweges on the other hand is not fazed and thinks that he can internally find a successor to Uth from their existing players. Erwin Mulder, a former Feyenoord goalkeeper, is on trial.
Heracles
What have they done so far?
As well as a fresh club badge, Heracles have added six new players to their roster. Right-backs Wout Droste and Tim Breukers, midfielders Gino Bosz (son of Vitesse manager, Peter), Robin Gosens and Peter van Ooijen plus forward Paul Gladon all come in.
Any more ins or outs?
Heracles’ squad looks complete and settled going into pre-season, but there may still be a successor to Bryan Linssen who left for Groningen.
NEC Nijmegen
What have they done so far?
NEC have made some potentially shrewd signings so far in this transfer market. Mohamed Rayhi is a winger full of promise, Wojciech Golla is an experienced, young centre-back who played in the Polish top flight and Janio Bikel wasn’t given enough of a chance to shine at Heerenveen.
Goalkeepers Marco van Duin and Hannes Thór Halldórsson give competition to Joshua Smits, Halldórsson being Iceland’s national team goalkeeper.
Any more ins or outs?
The squad isn’t quite ready; a left-back, right-back and centre-back are still needed. Left-back Marco Ospitalieri is on trial and manager Ernest Faber is keen on signing him.
PEC Zwolle
What have they done so far?
Not a lot. Only two senior players have been added, Nottingham Forest’s striker Lars Veldwijk, who will take over from Tomáš Necid, on a season-long loan and Sheraldo Becker has renewed his loan from Ajax.
Any more ins or outs?
Some depth all across the defence is essential and pacey winger Jody Lukoki’s departure requires attention.
PSV
What have they done so far?
The champions have permanently signed Andrés Guardado and Nicolas Isimat-Mirin following their impressive loan spells last season. Left-back Simon Poulsen arrives from AZ, goalkeeper Luuk Koopmans from Oss and PSV have also captured Brøndby striker Nikolai Laursen, 17, who looks an exciting talent.
Any more ins or outs?
PSV are yet to replace Memphis Depay, but Maxime Lestienne and Gastón Pereiro are both expecting moves to Eindhoven this week.
Georginio Wijnaldum is another still expected to leave. The captain has attracted interest from all over Europe. Newcastle United are in talks.
Karim Rekik turned his back on PSV by signing permanently for Marseille last week. As a consequence another centre-back is esssential. Mexicans Diego Reyes and Héctor Moreno, who play for Porto and Español respectively, have been linked.
The likes of De Jong, Willems and Maher on the other hand look set to stay so there should be no more gaps for PSV to fill.
Roda JC
What have they done so far?
Big Gibril Sankoh comes in to strengthen the defence, Jens van Son, a 27-year-old midfielder, will look to make the step up to the Eredivisie and Santiago Palacios will also look to make the grade in the top division after scoring 27 goals in 28 games for third division side De Treffers in the last campaign.
Any more ins or outs?
The squad looks a little light in terms of defenders so there could be some more activity there.
Twente
What have they done so far?
Flogged off half of their squad! Up to now, Kasper Kusk, Tim Breukers, Dico Koppers, Bilal Ould-Chikh, Darryl Lachman, Luc Castaignos, Andreas Bjelland, Filip Bednarek and Cuco Martina have all gone.
One new player has come in, Greek centre-back Giorgos Katsikas.
Any more ins or outs?
Hopefully some new faces coupled with some of the remaining players staying such as Jesús Corona, Felipe Gutiérrez and Kyle Ebecilio. Corona, despite being linked with PSV, says he wants to remain at the club – a big bonus to cash-strapped Twente.
Bruno Uvini could be coming in on loan from Napoli.
Utrecht
What have they done so far?
Spent a million euros on the permanent deals for French striker Sébastien Haller and Polish defender Timo Letschert. Futhermore, goalkeeper Filip Bednarek arrives from Twente, Louis Nganioni has been loaned from Lyon and midfielder Andreas Ludwig is a free transfer from the German second tier.
Any more ins or outs?
Utrecht look set for the new campaign but will hope no vultures come for big talent Yassin Ayoub.
Vitesse
What have they done so far?
PEC Zwolle’s Maikel van der Werff bolsters the defence, midfielder Sheran Yeini is an import from Israel’s top division plus exciting youngsters Milot Rashica and Zhang Yuning have suplemented the squad. From Chelsea, Lewis Baker and Brazilian Nathan have come in on loan.
Any more ins or outs?
Peter Bosz has said he could take “up to five” Chelsea loanees and would like “3 to 4 more players” in his squad. The relationship with the Premier League champions could see striker Isaiah Brown be the next to move to the Netherlands.
Willem II
What have they done so far?
Willem II want to build on last season’s ninth placed finish and their signings have showed this ambition. Dico Koppers, Nicky Kuiper and Guus Joppen are new full-backs, whilst midfielder Funso Ojo is a free-transfer from Dordrecht. On top of this, as part of the deal for Mitchell Dijks, Ajax have sent Lesly de Sa, Ruben Ligeon and Richairo Zivkovic on loan to the Tilburgers.
Any more ins or outs?
Unlikely. There’s plenty of competition throughout the squad and fans should look ahead to a strong season.
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Writer/interviewer/YouTuber for Football-Oranje. Massive Dutch football fan from the UK. Follow me @EredivisieMike & subscribe to Football-Oranje on YouTube.
