Dutch Eredivisie Transfers Summer 2009

Here is a comprehensive list of every single transfer to or from an Eredivisie club this summer thus far. No rumors, no speculation, just confirmed transfers.

Goin' Dutch will attempt to make this a comprehensive list with updates every few days. If there is a confirmed transfer not listed here or a correction to be made, please leave a comment (and a link if possible). We speak Dutch here at Goin' Dutch, so feel free to comment in either Dutch or English.

ADO Den Haag
In:
      Ricky van den Bergh (from Heracles Almelo)
      Raily Ignacio (from Westlandia)

Out:
      Fabio Caracciolo (on loan to FC Den Bosch)
      Samir El Mousssaoui (to FC den Bosch)

Ajax Amsterdam
In:
      None

Out:
      Thomas Vermaelen (to Arsenal FC)
      Dennis Gentenaar (to VVV-Venlo)
      Donovan Slijngaard (to Sparta Rotterdam)
      Robbert Schilder (to NAC Breda)
      Calvin Mac Intosch (to HFC Haarlem)
      Marvin Hasselbaink (to FC Omniworld)
      Jordi Schell (on loan to HFC Haarlem)
      Mitch Apau (to BV Veendam)

AZ Alkmaar
In:
      Pontus Wernbloom (from IFK Goteborg)

Out:
      Simon Cziommer (to Red Bull Salzburg)
      Gregory Nelson (to RBC Roosendaal)
      Robert Schutz (to Telstar)
      Furdjel Narsingh (to Telstar)

Feyenoord
In:
      Dani Fernandez (from FC Metalurh Donetsk)
      Aleksandar Ignjatovic (on loan from FK Borac Cacak)

Out:
      Henk Timmer (released)
      Theo Lucius (released)
      Michael Mols (released)
      Serginho Greene (retired)
      Glenn Kobussen (to Go Ahead Eagles)
      Joel Bijlow (to BV Veendam)

FC Groningen
In:
      Michael Jansen (from SC Cambuur)
      Danny Post (from HFC Haarlem)
      Jeffrey Rijsdijk (from Sparta Rotterdam)
      Serhat Koc (from FC Eindhoven)

Out:
      Paul Matthijs (to BV Veendam)
      Jeroen Veldmate (on loan to Helmond Sport)

SC Heerenveen
  In:
      Gerry Koning (from FC Volendam)
      Filip Duricic (from FC Radnicki Obrenovac)
      Samir Fazli (from FK Makedonija)
      Michal Papadopulos (from Mlada Boleslav)

Out:
      Danijel Pranjic (to FC Bayern Munich)
      Donovan Deekman (on loan to FC Emmen)
        Xander Houtkoop (on loan to FC Emmen)
        Michel Poldervaart (on loan to FC Emmen)
        Pavel Wojciechowski (on loan to FC Emmen)
        Bjorn Jonsson (on loan to FC Emmen)
        Richard Stolte (on loan to FC Emmen)
      Jeroen Drost (to Vitesse Arnhem)
      Oghuzan Turk (to SC Cambuur)

Heracles Almelo
  In:
      Peter Reekers (from VVV-Venlo)
      Resit Schuurman (from De Graafschap)
      Elias Pech (from Hertha Berlin)

Out:
      Emmanuel Boakye (to Sparta Rotterdam)
      Jan Wuytens (to FC Utrecht)
      Lukas Bayer (loan return to SK Sigma Olomouc)
      Remon de Vries (released)
      Ricky van den Bergh (to ADO Den Haag)
      Marnix Smit (to SVZW)
      Bartek Pacuszka (loan return to FC Twente)
      Karim Bridji (released)

NAC Breda
  In:
      Robbert Schilder (from Ajax)

Out:
      Wesley Pollemans (to RBC Roosendaal)
      Michiel Kramer (to FC Volendam)

NEC Nijmegen
  In:
      Rens van Eijden (From PSV Eindhoven)
      Bjorn Vleminckx (from KV Mechelen)
      Ricky ten Voorde (from FC Emmen)

Out:
      Tim Janssen (to Esbjerg fB)
      Dani Fernandez (loan return to FC Metalurh Donetsk)
      Dominique Scholten (to FC Oss)
      Karim Fachtali (to FC Oss)

PSV Eindhoven
  In:
      Andre Ooijer (from Blackburn Rovers)
      Orlando Engelaar (from FC Schalke 04)

Out:
      Jason Culina (to Gold Coast United)
      Rens van Eijden (to NEC Nijmegen)
      Jasper Waalkens (to Willem II)

RKC Waalwijk
  In:
      None

Out:
      Humphrey Rudge (retired)
      Jerge Hoefdraad (to FC Omniworld)

Roda JC
  In:
      None

Out:
      Marcel Meeuwis (to Borussia Monchengladbach)
      Wesley Schors (to MVV)

Sparta Rotterdam
  In:
      Emmanuel Boakye (from Heracles Almelo)
      Tim Bakens (from FC Volendam)
      Donovan Slijngard (from Ajax Amsterdam)

Out:
      Harald Wapenaar (released)
      Krisztian Vermes (loan return to Ujpest FC)
      Kim Jaggy (released)
      Cees Toet (to RBC Roosendaal)
      Jerold Promes (released)
      Inderlindo Moreno Freire (released)
      Floribert N'Galula (released)
      Marvin van der Pluijm (to FC Den Bosch)
      Maciej Wilusz (released)
      Jeffrey Rijsdijk (to FC Groningen)

FC Twente
  In:
      Nicky Kuiper (from Vitesse Arnhem)
      Nashat Akram (from Al-Ghafara)
      Luuk de Jong (from De Graafschap)

Out:
      Edson Braafheid (to FC Bayern Munich)
      Jules Reimerink (on loan to Go Ahead Eagles)
      Melvin Koetsier (to RBC Roosendal)
      Joran Pot (to RBC Roosendaal)

FC Utrecht
  In:
      Ricky van Wolfswinkel (from Vitesse Arnhem)
      Dries Mertens (from AGOVV)
      Nana Asare (from KV Mechelen)
      Jacob Mulenga (from Chateauroux)
      Jan Wuytens (from Heracles Almelo)

Out:
      Cedric van der Gun (released)
      Simon Cziommer (loan return to AZ Alkmaar)
      Kees van Buuren(to FC Den Bosch)
      Etienne Shew-Atjon (released)
      Nick Kuipers (to FC Dordrecht)

Vitesse Arnhem
  In:
      Jeroen Drost (from SC Heerenveen)
      Lasse Nilsson (from Saint-Etienne)

Out:
      Ricky van Wolfswinkel (to FC Utrecht)
      Nicky Kuiper (to FC Twente)
      Cees Keizer (to FC Zwolle)

VVV-Venlo
  In:
      Dennis Gentenaar (from Ajax Amsterdam)
      Ahmed Ahahaoui (from Go Ahead Eagles)
      Ruud Boymans (from Fortuna Sittard)

Out:
      Peter Reekers (to Heracles Almelo)


Willem II
  In:
      Niki Maenpaa (from FC Den Bosch)
      Jasper Waalkens (from PSV)

Out:
      Rens van Eijden (to NEC Nijmegen)
      Ibad Muhamadu (to Dynamo Dresden)
      Niels Vorthoren (to FC Den Bosch)
      Steef Niuewendaal (to FC Den Bosch)
      Bruno Appels (to FC Den Bosch)
      Jeroen van Bingsbergen (to AGOVV)
      Lars Lambooij (to BV Veendam)
      Michael de Leeuw (to BV Veendam)
      Marc Corman (to RBC Roosendal)

Huntelaar is ready to leave Ajax

Ajax's prolific young striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar has said that he will leave the Eredivisie after this season is over. The 24 year-old is reportedly searching for a move to one of Europe's bigger leagues, and it won't be too difficult for the tall Dutch international to find a move.

Huntelaar was linked with some of Europe's top clubs this summer, including Manchester United, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Juventus, Lyon and Liverpool.

However, Juventus are said to be leading the chase for the coveted Ajax front man. The Italian press even claims that Juventus already have an agreement with the Amsterdam club in place for next summer.

In any case it seems clear that one of Holland's greatest talents will finally be leaving his homeland.

"I feel ready for a new experience abroad," Huntelaar told the Dutch press.

"At the end of the season, I'll leave."

I'm excited to see where Huntelaar ends up, because as Ruud van Nistelrooy and Roy Makaay grow older, we will need some new talent to fill in. Robin van Persie, Dirk Kuyt, and Ryan Babel are all good forwards, but none are strikers in the same sense as Huntelaar and van Nistelrooy.

A challenge in a new league will be great for Huntelaar, so as much as I support Ajax, I must say that I would like to see him move abroad.

Dutch Attacking Midfielders: Who's the best?

The Netherlands has always been more focused on the attacking side of football, making the KNVB one of the most entertaining national teams to watch. However, with such a huge amount of attacking talent, Marco van Basten faces a challenge many managers would love to have: he has to choose between Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, and Clarence Seedorf in his 4-3-3 system.

Wesley Sneijder is, on his current form, one of the best midfielders in the world. Since having signed from Ajax Amsterdam, Sneijder scored 4 goals in 3 league games for Real Madrid. Before moving to Spain he was one of the most influential players at Ajax, having scored 43 goals in 126 Eredivisie games.

Rafael van der Vaart, the former wunderkind of Dutch soccer, single handedly moved Hamburg SV from the relegation zone to a European place. He has scored 17 goals in 45 league appearances for Hamburg, despite injuries last season. He started this season brightly, having scored 4 goals in only 7 games in the Bundesliga.

Clarence Seedorf, who had previously fallen out with Marco van Basten, is one of the constant threats for his AC Milan side. Despite playing in the left midfield for his club team, Seedorf has scored 24 goals in 161 appearances for the capital side.

Who is the best of the three though? Cast your vote on the right, and I'll tell you my personal opinion at the end of the week...

Eredivisie Roundup: Ajax and PSV go top

Ajax and PSV both won this weekend to go ahead of Feyenoord as Eredivisie leaders. PSV beat the Rotterdam team 4-0 in their first loss of the season. The two league leaders have yet to lose a game, winning 4 and drawing 1 each.

VVV Venlo 1-3 NAC Breda
NAC won away at De Koel despite the 77th minute sending off of Ronnie Stam. Anthony Lurling and Patrick Swaanswijk put NAC up 2-0, but an 82nd minute strike from Edwin Linsenn gave VVV some hope. However a penalty from Edwin de Graaf put the game beyond VVV's reach. The win puts NAC in a respectable 7th place, while VVV find themselves struggling in 15th.

Willem II Tilburg 1-0 Roda JC Kerkrade
Ibrahim Kargbo struck at the end of the first half to give Willem II a win over Roda JC. The loss put Roda JC into 11th place, while Willem's first win of the season was only enough to move them into 13th.

Sparta Rotterdam 1-1 SC Heracles Almelo
A 32nd minute strike from Nourdin Boukhari was cancelled out by Everton Ramos da Silva in the 63rd minute to give Heracles a point in Rotterdam. Heracles' first point saw the team move into 16th place, while Sparta are near to them in 14th with 4 points.

Vitesse Arnhem 0-2 De Graafschap
Purrel Frankel and Berry Powel struck to give De Graafschap a convincing 2-0 win over Vitesse. A great start to the season sees De Graafschap in 5th place, while Vitesse find themselves one point behind in 6th.

AZ Alkmaar 2-3 Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax pulled out a victory in a 5 goal thriller to go to the top of the league. A double from Luis Suarez and a goal from captain Klaas Jan Huntelaar were enough for Ajax to narrowly win a game which included a penalty miss from AZ's Mounir El Hamdaoui. AZ's two goals came from Demy de Zeeuw and Moussa Dembele, but the pair were unable to get a point from the capital team. Ajax now top the Eredivisie table, while AZ's bad start sees them in 9th.

Excelsior Rotterdam 1-3 FC Groningen
Geert den Ouden gave Excelsior the lead in the 40th minute, but Groningen equalized before half time through Erik Nevland. They then controlled the second half with a strike from Marcus Berg and a penalty from Levchenko, sealing a 3-1 win. Excelsior again failed to secure a point, leaving them rock bottom in the table. Groningen on the other hand are in the middle in 10th on 7 points.

Heerenveen 2-3 FC Utrecht
Giussepe Rossini scored in injury time to secure 3 points for Utrecht in a dramatic win. The game included three goals in the last 7 minutes, with Robin Nelisse scoring his second in the 83rd minute, only for Miralem Sulejmani to equalize two minutes later. The final twist though was Rossini's goal to put the game away. Utrecht moved up to 8th place, while Heerenveen sank into 12th.

PSV Eindhoven 4-0 Feyenoord Rotterdam
PSV destroyed former league leaders Feyenoord thanks to a double from Kenneth Perez and a goal each from Danny Koevermans and Edison Mendez. The Eindhoven giants leapfrogged Feyenoord to go second behind Ajax on goal differential. Feyenoord now find themselves in 3rd after a good start to the season.

Twente Enschede 3-0 NEC Nijmegen
Twente convincingly put away NEC with their 3 goals coming from Rob Wielaert, Blaise N'Kufo, and Luke Wilkshire. The win put Twente into 4th, two points behind league leaders Ajax and PSV. NEC on the other hand are facing an early relegation battle in 17th place.

UEFA Cup: Ajax, AZ, Heerenveen look to next round

Dutch teams did well in today's UEFA Cup matches as Ajax Amsterdam, AZ Alkmaar, and Heerenveen all booked wins. Twente and Grongingen were not nearly as happy, registering a loss and a draw respectively.

Dinamo Zagreb 0-1 Ajax
The Croatian champions fell 1-0 to a strike from Dennis Rommedahl after Klaas Jan Huntelaar took advantage of some sloppy defending to get an assist. Ajax are now heavy favorites to make it in to the next round, playing the return leg in Amsterdam.

Groningen 1-1 Fiorentina
Groningen drew at home to Fiorentina, after a strike from Stefan Nijland was canceled out by a Franco Semioli equalizer in the 67th minute. With the return leg to be played in Italy, it will be very difficult for Groningen to make it through.

Heerenveen 5-3 Helsingborg
Heerenveen beat Helsingborg in an 8 goal match. Michael Bradley, Gerald Sibon, and Henrik Larsonn all hit doubles to account for 6 of the goals, with the other two being provided by Razak Omotoyossi and Kristian Bak Nielsen. Even with 3 away goals, Helsingborg will have trouble making it into the next stage, with Heerenveen 2 goals ahead.

Getafe 1-0 Twente
Getafe won their European debut against Twente Enschede in stoppage time, as Ikechukwu Uche slotted home. Twente seemed to have the advantage for most of the match, but the dismissal of 62 minutes gave Getafe a clear advantage, and they will go into the return leg looking for another win. Twente have a shot at home, but are slight underdogs to the Spaniards.

Pacos de Ferreira 0-1 AZ
Pacos de Ferreira's European debut didn't go nearly as well, as AZ's left-back Sebastien Pocognoli scored in the 90th minute to give AZ the advantage in the second leg. AZ are now clear favorites to head through to the next round - and probably further.

Dutch Internationals in the Champions League (9/18)

Dirk Kuyt and Ruud van Nistelrooy were on target today as Real Madrid won and Liverpool tied their first Champions League games.

Van Nistelrooy scored the winner in Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over German giants Werder Bremen. Real Madrid's first, a goal from Raul following a van Nistelrooy pass, was equaled only a minute later when Sanogo scored for the Bundesliga team. However, Madrid were not to be denied as a fabulous pass from Wesley Sneijder put van Nistelrooy through with only the Tim Wiese to beat.

Also playing in the Madrid game were substitutes Royston Drenthe and Arjen Robben. The Dutch had a great impact on this game, as Wesley Sneijder once again asserted himself in the midfield, being one of the outstanding performers of the game. Robben on the other hand seemed rather wasteful, first botching a pass to Robinho (in front of a nearly open goal) and then missing a shot that seemed easy enough.

Dirk Kuyt was more accurate, scoring Liverpool's only goal as last year's Champions League finalists drew 1-1 with Porto at the Estadio de Dragao. Ryan Babel also featured in that game, and had the only other Liverpool shot in a game against Porto's formidable-looking defense.

Elsewhere, Jan Venegoor of Hesselink failed to find the net for Celtic as the Scottish Champions fell in a 2-0 loss to Shaktar Donetsk. Clarence Seedorf also played in AC Milan's 2-1 win over Benfica. He had little effect on the game though, and only managed one shot on goal (a small amount compared to the attacking midfielder's usual haul).

Tomorrow see's PSV play CSKA Moscow, as well as Arsenal vs. Sevilla, Manchester United vs. Sporting Lisbon; all games which will feature Dutch players.

Dutch Players in the big leagues (Weekend of 9/16)

The best Dutch international playing in La Liga, the Serie A, or the Premiership this weekend goes to Wesley Sneijder. The attacking midfielder scored his 4th goal for Real Madrid in only 3 games on Saturday with a beautifully executed free kick from 25 yards. Real Madrid won't be missing David Beckham if he hits more like that. In fact, if he keeps going at this rate, it's going to be Sneijder, not van Nistelrooy, who wins the Pichichi.

Also playing in the Real Madrid vs. Almeria game was Royston Drenthe, as van Nistelrooy was given a break following his inclusion during international fixtures. Drenthe came on at halftime for Gabriel Heinze, and the young defender put in another credible performance for the Spanish giants. The 20 year-old may prove to be what the KNVB needs to become a real force in world football.

Elsewhere, Clarence Seedorf, who was recently recalled by Marco van Basten into the Netherlands national team, played for AC Milan in their 1-1 draw away to Siena. Seedorf nearly broke the deadlock with a stoppage time shot, but hit the post rather than the back of the net in what was an inspiring performance from the midfielder. The attacking midfield positions in the Dutch squad seem to be incredibly powerful, with Sneijder, Seedorf, and van der Vaart competing for the spots.

In a more disappointing performance, Robin van Persie was barely seen in Arsenal's 3-1 triumph over North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Elsewhere in the premiership, though, Edwin van der Sar held a clean sheet for Manchester United, and Ryan Babel featured as a 77th minute substitute for Xabi Alonso in Liverpool's 0-0 draw with Portsmouth.

That's about it for the big leagues. Make sure you all watch PSV take on CSKA Moscow on Wednesday and Ajax in the UEFA Cup on Thursday.