Feyenoord acquires PEC Zwolle midfielder Van den Belt for next season

The Premier League frontrunner reinforces itself with the first division’s biggest talent next summer. Thomas van den Belt will transfer from PEC Zwolle in the summer and sign a four-year contract with Feyenoord.

The 21-year-old midfielder had been in the interest of the Rotterdammers for some time. Feyenoord already tried to bring Van den Belt to De Kuip in January, but PEC did not want to lose its star player in the battle for promotion to the premier league. Now both clubs have agreed to buy off Van den Belt’s contract, which runs until mid-2025.

This season, Van den Belt has already accounted for thirteen goals and eight assists at PEC. Thanks in part to his contribution, the team from Zwolle is well on its way to returning to the premier league after a one-year absence.

Van den Belt was born in Zwolle and made his debut for PEC in September 2020. He was recently named best player of the second period in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.

Feyenoord coach Arne Slot spent most of his career working for the club from the capital of Overijssel. Slot played for many years together with Gerald van den Belt, the father of Thomas and current financial director of SC Cambuur.

Feyenoord have been looking for midfield reinforcements for some time. Several attempts to acquire Ramiz Zerrouki from FC Twente came to nothing.

Meanwhile, Mats Wieffer played his way into the starting line-up at Feyenoord. The 23-year-old midfielder even made his debut in Oranje on Monday, in the 3-0 win over Gibraltar.