Sparta Rotterdam Eredivisie 2025/2026 Preview | OneFootball

Overview:

In 2024/25, Sparta Rotterdam finished 12th of 18 clubs and exited the KNVB Cup in the second round to eventual champions Go Ahead Eagles. In Maurice Steijn’s second season at the helm, he’ll be hoping to mimic any success his son Sem may have in Rotterdam-Zuid, and get his team up past the lower reaches of the Eredivisie table.

Transfers in: Lance Duijvestijn (Excelsior), Bruno Martins Indi (AZ Alkmaar), Jens Toornstra (FC Utrecht), Filip Bednarek (Lech Poznan), Nökkvi Thórisson (St. Louis City), Pascal Kuiper (Excelsior), Joël Drommel (PSV), Ayoub Oufkir (Sparta U21), Max de Ligt (Sparta U21).

Transfers out: Nick Olij (PSV), Mike Eerdhuijzen (FC Utrecht), Mohamed Nassoh (NAC Breda), Djevencio van der Kust (Heracles Almelo), Rick Meissen (Excelsior), Hamza el Dahri (Almere City), Boyd Reith (Almere City), Youri Schoonderwaldt (VVV-Venlo), Kaylen Reitmaier (Without Club).

Key player: Tobias Lauritsen

Norwegian forward Tobias Lauritsen lead the line well in 2024/25, scoring 10 goals and grabbing two assists in 33 matches. He’ll be key again this season, while also working as an example to the likes of Nökkvi Thórisson and Lance Duijvestijn as they continue to adapt to top-flight Dutch football. In the two season before last, Lauritsen scored 13 goals, so the previous 10 will arrive as a target to get past to once again keep to his personal high standards.

Young player to watch: Marvin Young

Despite last term being just his first full senior campaign, Marvin Young made such a good impression on the division that PSV wanted to sign him. Showing great capability in both the league and cup, the 19-year-old Young ranked highly amongst positional peers for both touches (top 16% percentile) and defensive actions (top 5% percentile).

With the ever-improving player’s market value is already up to €5.3 million, another solid spell in a Sparta shirt could mean he emerges as a solid asset for the team if he either stays or goes.

Transfer window needs:

So far, the oldest professional club in the Netherlands have brought in seven first-team players when nine have departed. They have covered their bases pretty well and have even brought two youngsters up come up through the ranks.

They have a wealth of experience in Bruno Martins Indi and Jens Toornstra but may benefit from a couple more Eredivisie-proven talents to consolidate or better last season’s league position. That said, Lance Duijvestijn is an interesting signing after being a key man in Excelsior’s Eerste Divisie promotion push.

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield