‘Timber personally rounded with Arsenal’ – ‘Manchester City make Gvardiol most expensive defender ever’

Dammers swaps Willem II for Randers FC

Wessel Dammers is transferring from Willem II to Randers FC. Willem II and the Danish club reached an agreement on the transfer of the central defender this week. As Dammers’ contract continued until the summer of 2025, Willem II will receive a transfer fee.

In early 2022, Dammers was rented for half a year from FC Groningen. Despite Willem II’s relegation from the Eredivisie, the 28-year-old Rotterdam native decided to return in the summer and sign a multi-year contract. This season he was a fixture in the defense. In a season and a half he came to 49 games.

‘Timber agreed with Arsenal on contract until mid-2028’

Jurriën Timber has agreed a contract to mid-2028 with Arsenal, De Telegraaf reports. The defender can earn eight million euros a year in London. The 22-year-old Timber still has a contract with Ajax until mid-2025. There is no agreement yet on the transfer fee, but according to De Telegraaf, both clubs are approaching each other. An initial offer of 35 million euros was reportedly rejected by Ajax.

‘Manchester City turns Gvardiol into most expensive defender ever’

According to English and German media, Josko Gvardiol will soon transfer from RB Leipzig to Manchester City. The Croatian center defender would make the switch for around 100 million euros. This will make Gvardiol the most expensive defender ever.

Currently, that honor belongs to Harry Maguire, who was acquired by Manchester United from Leicester City in 2020 for around 87 million euros.

Gvardiol still has a contract at RB Leipzig until the summer of 2027. There is no set buyout fee in it, which means Manchester City must pay the top price.

The Germans bought Gvardiol two years back from Dinamo Zagreb for around 18 million euros. Since then he developed stormily.

‘Ajax rents Ünüvar to FC Twente’

Ajacied Naçi Ünüvar will play on a rental basis for FC Twente next season, according to VI and De Telegraaf. The Tukkers would not have an option to buy in the rental agreement.

Last year, Ünüvar was loaned by Ajax to Trabzonspor. That did not become a great success, as the creative midfielder played only a handful of matches.

Pherai new teammate Reis at HSV

Immanuel Pherai will bid farewell to Eintracht Braunschweig and start playing for Hamburger SV. The 22-year-old Dutchman has signed for four years with HSV and will become teammate of Ludovit Reis there.

Pherai was picked up at a young age by Borussia Dortmund, which took him from AZ’s youth academy in 2017. The top German club leased him to PEC Zwolle in the 2020-2021 season.

At Dortmund, the midfielder failed to break through. At Eintracht Braunschweig, like HSV playing in the 2. Bundesliga, Pherai had a strong season. Thanks in part to his 10 goals and 7 assists, Braunschweig barely maintained their position.

Busquets follows Messi to Miami

Sergio Busquets will follow his former teammate Lionel Messi to Inter Miami. The 34-year-old midfielder announced his departure from FC Barcelona in May after 15 years in the Catalan main force.

There was interest in Busquets from Saudi Arabia, among other countries, but the 143-time Spanish international chose Major League Soccer. At Inter Miami, Busquets will be reunited with Messi, who traded Barça for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

Marcelino new coach Marseille

Marcelino will be coach of Olympique Marseille next season. The Spaniard succeeds Igor Tudor at last season’s No. 3 in the Ligue 1. The Croatian decided to leave Olympique after just one year.

The 57-year-old Marcelino has been coaching for 27 years, but so far only Spanish clubs. He had Gijón, Huelva, Santander, Zaragoza, Sevilla, Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao, among others, under his belt.

Benítez successor Carvalhal at Celta

Rafael Benítez is the new coach of Celta de Vigo. The 63-year-old experienced Spaniard succeeds Carlos Carvalhal. Under the Portuguese, the Galicians barely managed to maintain themselves in La Liga (13th) after a weak second half of the season.

Benítez was sidelined at Everton more than a year back. He previously coached Liverpool, Real Madrid and Chelsea, among others. With Liverpool, he won the Champions League in 2005.

Spierings prefers Lens to PSV

Stijn Spierings continues his career with French side RC Lens. The 27-year-old midfielder is leaving Toulouse for free. He was also in the interest of PSV, but chose Lens, which finished second in the Ligue 1 this year and qualified for the Champions League.

Spierings played in the Netherlands for AZ, Sparta and RKC. After a period at Bulgarian Levski Sofia, he ended up at Toulouse in 2020. Whereas in the Netherlands he played mainly as an attacking midfielder, in France he developed strongly as a defensive midfielder. Last season he had the most ball conquests in the Ligue 1.

After last year’s promotion, Spierings won the French Cup with Toulouse this year. Club and compatriot Branco van den Boomen also took advantage of his transfer-free status earlier and signed with Ajax.

Sparta acquires player from FC Barcelona

Sparta Rotterdam has strengthened with a player from FC Barcelona. The 22-year-old Sergi Rosanas signs for two seasons at Het Kasteel, with an option for another two seasons. The right back played for the Catalans in Barcelona B, which plays at the third level of Spain. Rosanas also played for Spain Under 19.

Rosanas is Sparta’s fourth reinforcement in the summer transfer window. Saïd Bakari and Pelle Clement came over from RKC Waalwijk and Django Warmerdam from FC Utrecht.

Sunderland strict PSV talent Seelt

Jenson Seelt continues his career with English side Sunderland, playing in the Championship. The 20-year-old defender played 63 games for Jong PSV in the first division and featured once in the premier league last year as a substitute against PEC Zwolle. He transferred from the youth of NEC to PSV in 2017 and still had a contract in Eindhoven until mid-2024.

Nuytinck back ‘home’ at NEC after 11 years abroad

Bram Nuytinck is returning to NEC. The 33-year-old center defender played in NEC’s youth and made 73 appearances for NEC in the premier league from 2009 to 2012. He then played five years for Belgian side Anderlecht and then moved to Udinese in Serie A, The second half of last season he was in action for Sampdoria, with whom he relegated to Serie B,

Nuytinck signed a three-year contract with NEC and is happy to return to the club where he began his professional soccer career, “I am looking forward to playing again for the club where it all started for me. I strongly believe in NEC’s vision and ambitions and am determined to contribute to the club’s success. It feels good to return and to be able to wear the colors of the city again.”

NEC has managed to bring former players back to Nijmegen several times in recent years. For example, Jasper Cillessen and Lasse Schöne are in the selection and NEC previously brought back club hero Édgar Barreto (now retired).

Zwolle brings Vermeer back to the Netherlands

Kenneth Vermeer will be back in the premier league starting next season. The 37-year-old former Ajax and Feyenoord goalkeeper has secured a contract with promoted PEC Zwolle. Vermeer signed a one-year contract with an option for another season.

Bayern confirms arrival of left-back Guerreiro

Bayern Munich has confirmed the arrival of Raphaël Guerreiro. The 29-year-old left-back has signed for three years with the national champion.

The Portuguese international was transfer-free after refusing to renew his expiring commitment at Borussia Dortmund. Guerreiro has played for Dortmund since 2016. Before that, he played for French clubs Caen and Lorient.

“When the call from FC Bayern came, my decision was quickly made,” Guerreiro said. “It’s an honor for me to play for this big club and I also greatly appreciate coach Thomas Tuchel from our time together at Dortmund. I am a player who always likes to have the ball, play to dominate and create chances. I will do everything to win as many titles as possible. That is the philosophy of FC Bayern.”

Dzeko (37) swaps Inter for Fenerbahçe

Edin Dzeko is not thinking of quitting just yet. The Bosnian striker, who still started in the starting lineup at Internazionale in the Champions League final against Manchester City, has signed a contract with Turkish Fenerbahçe.

The 37-year-old Dzeko could have also re-signed a year with the top Italian club, but that was too little security for him. In Istanbul, he was given a contract for the next two seasons. Dzeko scored 14 goals for Inter last season, counting all competitions and tournaments. The striker previously played soccer for VfL Wolfsburg, Manchester City and AS Roma, among others.

Fenerbahçe finished second behind rival Galatasaray last season and has been waiting for the Turkish title since 2014.Dzeko is the successor at the Turkish top club to Ecuadorian Enner Valencia, who recently reached an agreement with Brazilian club Internacional.

To celebrate, Dzeko already drank a cup of Turkish tea and performed his singing skills, as evidenced by the tweet below.

‘Cerny almost from Wolfsburg’

Vaclav Cerny’s transfer from FC Twente to VfL Wolfsburg is as good as complete, reports including the Wolfsburger Allgemeine. The flank attacker is said to be currently already in the German city and, if both clubs are in final agreement, will sign a four-year contract.

Cerny scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists in 41 games last season.

‘Kluivert will sign with Bournemouth’

Justin Kluivert will undergo a medical at Bournemouth on Friday. If that examination goes well, the Dutch striker will sign a contract until the summer of 2028.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League club will pay a fee of around 11 million euros to AS Roma, excluding bonuses.

The Italians leased Kluivert to RB Leipzig, OGC Nice and Valencia in recent years.

No transfer stress for young national team players Summerville and Zirkzee

The day after the match against Young Belgium, Jong Oranje attackers Crysencio Summerville (Leeds) and Joshua Zirkzee (Bologna) talked about their future. “Sure Dutch clubs can call me, but whether I’m really going to make a move, I don’t know. I played less at Bologna than I wanted beforehand, but that’s part of soccer sometimes.”

Summerville played a strong season with England’s Leeds, but did get relegated from the Premier League with that club. There is said to be interest in him from PSV, Feyenoord and Everton, among others. “I’m focusing on the youngsters. The rest will come later.”