Who can your club sign on a free transfer this summer from the Netherlands? We give you line-up of Eredivisie players who are due to leave their clubs for pastures new in July.

  • by Michael Statham
  • Follow Michael on Twitter @EredivisieMike

Goalkeeper – Eloy Room (PSV)

Room has been second-choice goalkeeper for the Eredivisie champions for two years now after some impressive previous campaigns with Vitesse. The Curacaoan turned 30 this year and wants to return to first-team football.

Right-back – Ricardo van Rhijn (AZ Alkmaar)

The former Ajax and Club Brugge defender was only signed to provide defensive cover for AZ. The right-back, who can also play at centre-back and in midfield, will be desperate for first-team football at a lesser club following bit-part roles at his previous employers.

Centre-back – Daniel Schwaab (PSV)

On the whole, it’s been an impressive campaign for Schwaab, and it would be a surprise if PSV did not renew the German defender’s contract.

Centre-back – Jurgen Mattheij (Excelsior)

An Excelsior stalwart for many years now, the 26-year-old may be eying a move abroad after proving himself to be a competent defender at Eredivisie level. Far from perfect given his red card and own goal record, Mattheij has still been a vital component of Excelsior’s defence in Dutch football’s top tier.

Left-back – Alexander Buttner (Vitesse)

The former Manchester United defender found himself with regular playing time after moving back to the club where he started his professional career. The 30-year-old may wish to land one final paycheque abroad before retirement.

Midfield – Adam Maher (AZ Alkmaar)

Maher has been a revelation in AZ’s midfield this season; one can only imagine that the creative midfielder has not been offered a new contract yet because of aspirations from the player to play outside of the Netherlands following his past struggles with PSV and in Turkey.

Midfield – Lerin Duarte (Heracles)

Once of Ajax, Duarte has rediscovered himself at Heracles after moving back to Almelo. At 28, does Duarte fancy a move abroad? His form in Heracles’ run for a Europa League spot will do a transfer no harm.

Midfield – Pelle van Amersfoort (Heerenveen)

The 23-year-old was once an exciting young striker who bagged goals for the Netherlands youth teams. Unfortunately, it seems as though Heerenveen do not hold interest of keeping their youth product.

Right-wing – Sheraldo Becker (ADO Den Haag)

Much maligned by the ADO supporters, but on his day, Becker can be an explosively exciting winger that can change a game in an instant. Because of the criticism, the winger probably fancies a transfer away from the Hague.

Striker – Mitchell te Vrede (NAC Breda)

Te Vrede has been good for nine goals so far this season for Eredivisie’s bottom club NAC Breda. A good free signing for a struggling Eredivisie club next season, or perhaps a lower-end Championship team in need of an alternative striker who will battle his socks off.

Left-wing – Erik Falkenburg (ADO Den Haag)

ADO are the seventh Eredivisie club of the 30-year-old’s career and it would be no surprise to see the journeyman plying his trade for another Dutch outfit next season. Falkenburg is an attacking-midfielder who can play most forward positions.

But that’s not all! Here’s some other interesting pick-ups:

Substitutes: Lamprou (GK – Ajax), van der Werff (Centre-back – Vitesse), Vlaar (Centre-back – AZ Alkmaar), Droste (Right-back – Heracles), Cavlan (Left-back – Emmen), Kobayashi (Midfielder – Heerenveen), Schaars (Midfielder – Heerenveen), Kramer (Striker – Utrecht), Gladon (Striker – Groningen), van Mieghem (Winger – De Graafschap)




Michael Statham (800 Posts)

Writer/interviewer/YouTuber for Football-Oranje. Massive Dutch football fan from the UK. Follow me @EredivisieMike & subscribe to Football-Oranje on YouTube.