Eredivisie 2024/25 Preview: NEC Nijmegen | OneFootball

NEC Nijmegen enjoyed one of their best ever top flight seasons during the 2023/2024 campaign. They finished in the European play-offs, ultimately falling short. Head coach Rogier Meijer is one of the longest serving head coaches around, having been with the club since 2020. If he can match last season’s performance it will be another successful season for the side.

Last season’s position: 6th

Transfers In: Rober Gonzalez (Real Betis), Basar Onal (De Graafschap), Stijn van Gassel (Excelsior), Koki Ogawa (Yokohama FC), Brayann Pereira (AJ Auxerre), Argyris Darelas (PAOK Saloniki B), Luc Nieuwenhuijs (Vitesse Arnhem), Ivan Marquez (1.FC Nuremberg, Loan)

Transfers Out: Jasper Cillessen (UD Las Palmas), Pedro Marques (Apollon Limassol), Sylla Sow (Al-Najma SC), Nils Rossen (SC Telstar), Bas Dost (Released)

Overview:

The side will be glad to see that Koki Ogawa returns after an impressive season last time out. They also managed to bring Roberto Gonzalez back, another who was a key player during the 2023/2024 campaign. The midfielder scored 10 goals and grabbed five assists in 36 games.

Former Dutch international Jasper Cillessen leaves the side, but they look set to turn to youth and rely on Robin Roefs between the posts. The 21-year-old played nine games last season and started the opening day defeat to FC Twente this past weekend. They may miss the unexpected brilliance that Tjaronn Chery brought them during the season, with the midfielder opting to join Antwerp in the summer.

NEC kept most of the key players from last season together, and that continuity could be important for Meijer’s side as they look to finish in the top eight again this season. Perhaps another cup run would also be on the cards, after making the final last season. Unfortunately they came up short against Feyenoord.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson