The Club of the People: Feyenoord Rotterdam

Winning some sort of domestic silverware will prove to be a decent season, but I can certainly imagine your eyes are firmly set on performing well in the UEFA Champions League!

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25 June 2017

Toornstra Puts End To Speculation By Signing Two Year Contract Extension

Feyenoord midfielder Jens Toornstra has today put an end to speculation linking him with a move to FC Porto by signing a new two year contract extension that will keep him at De Kuip until June 2020. The 28 year old was an integral part of the Feyenoord side that lifted the title but under heavy speculation that he would move on to pastures new, Toornstra has put pen to paper to extend his stay at the current Dutch Champions.

Toornstra made 33 appearances for Feyenoord last season, playing in all but one of the sides league games in their successful season, and scored 3 goals as well as assisting two. His new deal will see the Dutch midfielder earn a significant pay rise and with speculation persisting over some of his team mates, may also see Toornstra pushed further forward in a more advanced role as well as allowing Toornstra to test his abilities at the top level as Feyenoord will compete in the Champions League this season.

Toornstra spoke to Feyenoord.nl upon the news of his contract extension and said ”I am delighted to have extended my stay here. I know at times last year that it was talked about that I wanted to leave and test my abilities elsewhere but what we achieved here last year was really special and to now be able to go again this year and enjoy a Champions League campaign is fantastic and it will be brilliant to see where we can go this year.”

Comments

MJK46: Thanks man, CHAMPIONS!!

Justice: Winning the KNVB Beker would be nice to complete the domestic set and retaining the Eredivisie is a must! Making an impact in the Champions League won’t be easy at all but hopefully the draw will be kind!

Great to see him sign an extension, he's a very talented player!

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01 July 2017

Louis Schaub Becomes Feyenoord’s First New Arrival

Feyenoord have today unveiled Rapid Vienna’s Louis Schaub as their first new signing of the summer, with the 22 year old Austrian playmaker arriving on a free transfer after the expiration of his contract at the Allianz Stadion in the Austrian capital. The attacking midfielder has signed a four year contract keeping him at De Kuip until June 2021 and has declared his intention to help Feyenoord pick up more silverware off the back of last season’s Eredivisie title win.

Capable of playing across any of the three attacking midfield roles and in a deeper central midfield role, Schaub has been signed by Giovanni van Bronckhorst, reportedly as a replacement for Tonny Vilhena who looks set for a departure this summer, with various La Liga and Premier League sides being linked with the young Dutch midfielder. Schaub though said he was delighted to have arrived at De Kuip and had arrived in Rotterdam to win silverware and that he had been impressed by Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s commitment to playing attacking football last season and impressive rate of picking up trophies at Feyenoord.

Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst was delighted to have secured his man, especially for such a low fee. ”Louis is a player of a very high quality and he is only going to improve this side with his ability. For him to be available on such a low transfer fee is great too as it means we are able to continue investing elsewhere in the squad. Louis is capable of playing in various positions and doing it to a very high level and when we have a Champions League campaign coming up that is exactly what we are in need of.”

Comments

Justice: He developed really nicely as a box to box midfielder over the course of last season too and losing him would have been a huge blow and would have meant bedding a replacement in sooner rather than later.

Ticks all the boxes for an attacking midfielder, and has plenty of international experience at a relatively young age! Will hopefully perform well for Feyenoord!

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02 July 2017

Terence Kongolo Completes Goodison Park Move

Everton have today completed the signing of Feyenoord centre back Terence Kongolo for a fee of around £11.5 million. Kongolo who has been capped 3 times by the Netherlands was part of the Feyenoord side that were crowned Dutch Champions in May, ending an 18 year wait for the Eredivisie title. However Kongolo, submitted a transfer request declaring an intention to go on and play for a bigger team in a bigger league to really test his abilities.

Capable of playing both in the centre of defence and out wide as a left full back, Kongolo’s appearances for Feyenoord were split last season, often operating as an advanced wing back in manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s 4-2-3-1 formation that guided Feyenoord to the title. Having joined Everton, Kongolo joins up with former Feyenoord manager Ronald Koeman again, with Kongolo claiming Koeman’s presence at Goodison Park being a big reason why he chose Everton over the other sides that were interested in his services, with those clubs reportedly including the likes of Champions League sides Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.

Ronald Koeman was delighted at the capture of Kongolo, claiming the centre back would be an integral part of his Everton side as they look to improve on last season’s 13th placed finish in the Premier League. ”Having worked with Terence before I know that he is capable of becoming a huge part of our defence and playing a huge role in what will hopefully be an improved season from us and one where we can really push on. He has chosen us over Champions League sides, including Feyenoord and for me that shows the attractiveness of what we are trying to achieve here.”

Comments

Justice: I feel like he should have made the move to the Bundesliga or the lower reaches of the Premier League so to snatch him on a free transfer for me is a great piece of business and he should be a star in this side because you’re right he ticks all the boxes

This story made me start with Feyenoord my self. Fun team to play with, and a real challenge against Ajax and PSV. And a even tougher task to succeed in Europe.

Did you get any nice prospect on the youth intake?

Kongolo leaving isn't too much of a surprise, he's a top talent who was always going to be difficult to keep when clubs like Everton can provide a chance in the Premier League and most likely a bigger pay-cheque. However Schaab is a good piece of business and at the age of 22 will only continue to grow you'd imagine.

Its always tough to sell starting players, especially in these kind of circumstances, but I have no doubt that he can be replaced well! It may be one step back, but I know you're capable of taking two steps forward next!

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08 July 2017

Feyenoord Seal Miazga Loan Deal

Chelsea have today confirmed that 21 year old central defender Matt Miazga will be returning to the Eredivisie on loan this season, this time to join Feyenoord as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side prepare for the defence of their Eredivisie title. Miazga spent the entirety of the 2016/17 season on loan at Feyenoord’s title rivals but this season joins forces with the reigning Champions as Giovanni van Bronckhorst bolsters his squad ahead of a gruelling Eredivisie campaign and the added pressures of a UEFA Champions League campaign.

Miazga made 27 appearances for Vitesse last season as Henk Fraser’s young side finished 6th in the Eredivisie with Miazga impressing in his central defensive role. Miazga also made the point that during his debut campaign in the Eredivisie he had been impressed by Feyenoord’s attacking intent and that he was determined to win trophies with the Rotterdam club during his season at the club.

Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst said he was delighted to have secured the signature of the 21 year old American, albeit temporarily, saying that Miazga’s arrival would give Feyenoord a big boost ahead of their Eredivisie title defence. ”Matt is experienced this league after his time at Vitesse last season and has really impressed and now he has earnt his chance to play at the very top level with Feyenoord when we open our Champions League campaign in September.”

Comments

Matsnor: Ahhh that’s awesome man! Yeah they are a lot of fun to play with, with some very good players already in the first team and some exciting players coming through the youth ranks. Challenging PSV and Ajax is fun but making a real break through in Europe will be ridiculously hard.

As for youth prospects man, my youth intake was here March Review if you want to check it out

ScottT: No I was fully expecting to lose him to be honest as we had only just managed to keep hold of him in the January transfer window. The pay cheque was on offer at Everton and I don’t blame him for leaving, as he earnt us a fair bit of cash which we will be able to reinvest in the squad now. Schaub should be a star for this side and hopefully will set this league alight.

Justice: Yeah he can be replaced, not easily albeit, but whether a replacement comes from the youth teams or as a new signing we’re in a position where we can replace him now and we will be better for it eventually.

Hopefully Miazga will do well for you!

A very reputable youngster with plenty of experience, will be a big boost!

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10 July 2017

Verdonk And Fernandes Promoted To First Team Duties

Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has today confirmed the promotion of two players to his first team squad from the clubs academy sides. Calvin Verdonk and Rashaan Fernandes will spend the season playing with the first team squad and become the latest in a long line of Feyenoord’s academy graduates to move into the first team and likely to break into the first team in the long upcoming season.

With Terence Kongolo’s departure to Everton, a void was left in the Feyenoord squad with Kongolo having played both at left back and at centre back during Feyenoord’s successful title bid and van Bronckhorst has made the decision to include Calvin Verdonk in his squad having been impressed with the youngsters performances at reserve and under 19 level. ”Calvin has really impressed in the lower levels and I have every bit of confidence that this season as a first team player he can impress in this side, and one that will be testing itself at the highest level in the Champions League.”

Meanwhile with Steven Berghuis having left Feyenoord to return to Watford after his season long loan, Rashaan Fernandes is again another player that has impressed away from the first team. Fernandes spent the second half of last season away at FC Den Bosch and helped the side to win the Jupiler League and earn promotion to the Eredivisie. Fernandes is able to play on both the left and right wings and could form an integral part of van Bronckhorst’s side in the coming weeks. ”Rashaan is a player we have been monitoring for a little while now and has impressed both in the reserves as well as during his time at Den Bosch last season and hopefully he can make the step up to our first team a successful one and can go on to have an impressive debut season in the Feyenoord first team.”

Comments

MilesPlaysFM: Hopefully, isn’t an exact replacement for Kongolo but hopefully he’ll go some way to filling the void.

Justice: Yep I hope you’re right but he should bring in some US interest in the side and some youthfulness to really push us forward.

Two fairly promising players, it is nice to see you bring some up from the youth ranks to bolster your squad!

It's good to see you bringing through some of the young talent and continuing the cycle of tradition within Feyenoord. Hopefully they can grow and feature at some point this season.