The 26 year old defender has come on a free transfer, with Heerenveen manager Ferry De Haan praising his ‘no-nonsense mentality’
Translated by Thomas Ansell
With only a month or so to go until the new Eredivisie season, more and more players are finalising deals to play for a different club. As reported by the Omrop Fryslân, SC Heerenveen (the most successful Frisian club) have now added a high-profile name to their squad with the (free) purchase of Sven Van Beek, a central defender, from Feyenoord.
Van Beek comes with high expectations: the 26-year old played over 100 times for the Rotterdam team, being part of the Eredivisie title-winning squad in 2017, and winning the Dutch cup twice (in 2016 and 2018). He’s also played for the Dutch youth national teams, and is one of five new SC Heerenveen players for the coming season: including the exciting young Serbian left-back Filip Stevanovic, signed from English champions Manchester City.
FC Groningen
Meanwhile, Northern rivals FC Groningen (who are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year) have made exciting Swedish striker Paulos Abraham’s transfer from AIK Solna permanent for up to 2 million Euros. They have also signed Croatian/German defender Marin Sverko, and Peter Leeuwenburgh from Cape Town City in South Africa.
In total, FCG have taken on 9 new players, although the big loss for the Pride of the North is giant keeper Sergio Padt, who has signed on a free for the Bulgarian team Ludogorets Razgrad, and has the chance of playing in the UEFA Champions League, if Ludogorets beat Slovene champions NŠ Mura. Another big loss for FC Groningen is the superb Japanese centre-back Ko Itakura, who has returned to parent club Manchester City following a 2-year loan in the Netherlands.
SC Cambuur
SC Cambuur Leeuwarden, back in the top division for the first time in several years, have strengthened their squad with the addition of 26-year old striker Sam Hendriks from Go Ahead Eagles, as well as fellow centre forward Tom Boere (28) from SV Meppen in the German 3. Liga. Unfortunately, the Leeuwarders have also released several players, including former FC Groningen winger Jarchinio Antonia, and former Ajax youth player Sven Nieuwpoort.
FC Emmen
FC Emmen, who dropped down to the Dutch first division last season after being relegated, have had a summer of churning their squad: with 12 new first team players, including former FC Groningen defender Lorenzo Burnet. Meanwhile, 19 players have left the club.
