The Eredivisie season is upon us and there is a fresh bunch of young talents looking to make a big impact in the Dutch top flight. Michael Bell picks his top talent to watch from each of the 18 Eredivisie clubs.
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Ajax – Kenneth Taylor
The midfielder signed a new bumper deal with the club this summer and is set to play a more crucial role in Alfred Schreuder’s line-up after the departure of Ryan Gravenberch.
The 20-year-old has made 22 appearances so far for the first-team and has made a good impression so far in pre-season.
Creative, strong on the ball and with an eye for goal, Taylor has all the attributes to be an excellent midfielder for Ajax and this is his season to finally prove himself.
Already a Netherlands U21 international, Taylor will be hoping to cement a starting place for Ajax this season and if he continues his development he could be set for a huge season.
PSV Eindhoven – Xavi Simons
One of the surprise signings for PSV Eindhoven this summer, Xavi Simons arrives in Eredivisie with a huge reputation.
The midfielder came through the Barcelona academy before joining PSG, where he made a handful of first-team appearances. The Netherlands U19 international was in talks over a new deal, but instead made the move to PSV.
Simons has had a huge reputation since a young age and he had the perfect debut for PSV, coming off the bench to score a lovely goal in the 5-3 win over Ajax. It is hopefully a sign of what is to come from the versatile midfielder, who has excellent dribbling ability, vision, and a strong right foot.
Feyenoord – Mohamed Taabouni
After getting tired of waiting for his chance at AZ Alkmaar, Mohamed Taabouni has joined Feyenoord, hoping to finally make his big breakthrough.
The young winger has been highly regarded for years but he has only made one appearance in the Eredivisie so far. This is despite being on the bench in nearly all of AZ Alkmaar’s games last season.
Feyenoord swooped to snap him up this summer and he has impressed in pre-season so far. Reunited with ex-AZ boss Arne Slot, Taabouni is now hoping to make a big impression in the Eredivisie.
The 20-year-old is a tricky winger, who can also move into midfield. His passing ability and trickery are two big strengths and he could help lessen the loss of Luis Sinisterra in Rotterdam.
Vitesse Arnhem – Mohamed Sankoh
Lois Openda is gone but Vitesse have brought in a very exciting young striker in Mohamed Sankoh, who arrives from VFB Stuttgart.
The powerful young Dutchman was set to make his big breakthrough in Germany last season but a cruel injury suffered on the first day of the season meant Sankoh spent the rest of the campaign on the sidelines.
Sankoh has now moved to Vitesse on loan in order to regain fitness and form. He is strong with the ball at his feet and is powerful in the air. Sankoh has the ability to take the Eredivisie by storm.
FC Utrecht – Daishawn Redan
After showing his potential at PEC Zwolle last season, Utrecht have snapped up Redan on loan from Hertha Berlin and the young Dutchman could be set for the best season of his career so far.
A wonderkid while at Chelsea, Redan has struggled to make an impact since moving to Germany, but last season he netted six times on loan for PEC Zwolle. He now makes the step up to Utrecht and has had a very productive pre-season with five goals.
Redan has all the qualities to be an excellent striker and he could form a lethal partnership with Bas Dost in the Cathedral City. He is still only 21 years old and I think this is the season we see the real Redan, who could propel Utrecht to challenge for the top four.
AZ Alkmaar – Milos Kerkez
AZ Alkmaar may have lost Owen Wijndal, but in Milos Kerkez the club has a very exciting replacement.
The 18-year-old Hungarian joined AZ from AC Milan’s U19 side last January and he is set to be the first-choice for Pascal Jansen this season after starting both of the club’s Europa Conference League ties.
Pacey, strong in the tackle and with plenty of attacking intent, Kerkez looks like he has all the ingredients to be an excellent left-back and AZ fans will enjoy watching him this season.
Groningen – Tomas Suslov
Groningen had a disappointing campaign last season, but the performances of young midfielder Tomas Suslov were one of the bright spots.
The Slovakian international is a product of the Groningen academy and he has already made 63 appearances for the club, contributing three goals and eleven assists.
Suslov is a versatile midfielder, who is strong at winning the ball back, but also has great vision and dribbling ability. He can also be deployed on the wing.
If Groningen are to push for a European spot this season then Suslov will be one of the players needed to step up.
Heerenveen – Amin Sarr
It could be a very exciting season in Friesland with the arrival of new head coach Kees van Wonderen and the partnership up front between Sydney van Hooijdonk and Amin Sarr.
Heerenveen splashed the cash to bring in Sarr last January for around €3 million and he proved to be a good addition with his five goals in 13 appearances helping the club reach the European playoffs.
A pacey forward with excellent finishing ability, Sarr is heading into his first full season in Friesland and the club’s supporters believe his goals could propel them to a top seven finish. The 21-year-old will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Swede Alexander Isak, who impressed in the Eredivisie before going on to earn a big move abroad.
NEC Nijmegen – Ibrahim Cissoko
NEC Nijmegen has one of the most underrated academies in the Netherlands and one of the new stars ready to impress this season is pacey winger Ibrahim Cissoko.
The 19-year-old, who was born in Nijmegen, impressed for the club’s U21 side last season and earned his debut in the first team. He made a total of four appearances and contributed one goal.
Cissoko is set to feature more prominently this season and has made a good impression so far in pre-season. With the departure of Jonathan Okita, NEC will need an attacker to step up and Cissoko could be the one to do that. A formidable and pacey partnership could be formed up top with Elayis Tavzan.
Volendam – Ibrahim El Kadiri
Volendam are one of the promoted clubs to the Eredivisie this season and head coach Wim Jonk is set to play an attacking brand of football. Looking to make a big impression is young winger Ibrahim El Kadiri.
Born in Amsterdam, El Kadiri was released by the Ajax academy before ending up in Volendam via Utrecht. He has since made 70 appearances for the club, scoring ten goals and adding six assists.
The 20-year-old is now heading for his first Eredivisie campaign and the young Moroccan will be hoping to help his side survive relegation. El Kadiri is a left-winger blessed with plenty of pace, trickery, and an end product.
FC Twente – Sem Steijn
FC Twente are looking to build on their fourth-place finish last season and one of their most impressive summer signings is the capture of Sam Steijn on a free from ADO Den Haag.
The young midfielder was excellent last season, scoring 18 goals and adding six assists. He has now made the move up to the Eredivisie and the 20-year-old has already been impressing with some wonderful goals in pre-season.
Steijn comes alive in the box and his creativity will also be a major weapon for Twente this season. If Steijn and Ricky van Wolfswinkel can strike up a partnership, then Twente will once again be pushing for a European spot.
Emmen – Rui Mendes
Emmen are back in the Eredivisie and Dick Lukkien is bringing a squad packed with experienced heads and some young talents, including Mendes
The 22-year-old winger was a big reason why Emmen raced to the Keuken Kampioen Divisie title with 15 goals and seven assists.
The Portuguese forward was a bargain on a free transfer from Hoffenheim and will now be looking to prove himself in the Eredivisie. Mendes can play on either wing and has also played as a number ten.
A strong finisher with pace and trickery, Mendes will be one to watch in Emmen and crucial if they are to remain in the top division.
Go Ahead Eagles – Enric Llansana
A prospect from the Ajax academy, Llansana has decided to join Go Ahead Eagles after failing to make the first team in Amsterdam.
A Netherlands youth international, with Spanish roots, the versatile defensive midfielder made 61 appearances for Jong Ajax and appeared on the bench a number of times for the first team. However, he will now make his Eredivisie bow in Deventer.
The now 21-year-old is strong in the tackle and on the ball and can also be pushed into a centre-back role.
Sparta Rotterdam – Mohammed Tahiri
Sparta Rotterdam has a prolific academy and the next player looking to make his breakthrough at the club is Tahiri, who has been seen as a big prospect for years in the academy.
Now 21 years old, Tahiri is hoping this will be the year he makes his first team debut after netting 17 goals and adding 14 assists for the club’s U21 side.
Pre-season has been positive for the striker, who has contributed seven goals and Tahiri could start the season as one of the club’s starting attackers.
Excelsior – Marouan Azarkan
After gaining promotion last season, Excelsior have lost some key players, but they have managed to bring Azarkan back on loan from Feyenoord.
The winger made the move to Excelsior last season and was a big contributing factor to their promotion with 13 goals and 11 assists for the club.
The 20-year-old will now be looking to help Excelsior remain in the Eredivisie and also prove to Feyenoord that he can handle the level. His pace, trickery and finishing ability make him an exciting prospect and he will be crucial for Excelsior this season.
Cambuur – Remco Balk
After making his breakthrough at Groningen, Balk was snapped up by Utrecht last January but will spend this season loaned to Cambuur.
The right-winger has so far made 30 Eredivisie appearances in his career, but only contributed one goal and one assist. Balk has plenty of talent and the 21-year-old will now be looking to prove himself in Cambuur.
Balk has good dribbling ability and if he can add an end product to his game this season then Cambuur will have a player capable of helping them remain in the division and also push for a top half finish.
Fortuna Sittard – Remy Vita
All eyes in Sittard have been on the signing of Burak Yilmaz this summer, but the club have also brought in the talented left-back Remy Vita on loan from Bayern Munich.
The young defender was loaned to English Championship side Barnsley last season and made 20 appearances for the club, who decided not to lift the option to make the deal permanent.
The attacking wing-back now joins Fortuna Sittard looking to fulfill his potential and the 21-year-old has all the attributes to be an excellent signing.
RKC Waalwijk – Mika Biereth
RKC Waalwijk have a very intriguing young striker on their hands after agreeing to sign Mika Biereth on loan from Arsenal.
The 19-year-old has been lethal in youth football with 12 goals in 26 appearances for Arsenal’s U21 squad, but now he has the chance to make his first team debut in the Eredivisie.
The Danish youngster is strong and a lethal finisher in the box. He has already netted five times in pre-season and RKC will be hoping he provides the goals to steer them away from the relegation zone.
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