Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 09:32• Chris Meijer • Last update: 09:48

PEC Zwolle has strengthened itself with Jasper Schendelaar, the club announces through the official channels. The twenty-year-old goalkeeper comes transfer-free from AZ, which leased him to Telstar last season. Schendelaar signs a two-year contract in Zwolle, with an option for another season.

Schendelaar went through the youth academy of AZ and grew into a sought-after youth international in Alkmaar, but ultimately never made his debut in the main force. After 33 appearances for Jong AZ in the Kitchen Champion Division, the closing post made the switch to Telstar on a rental basis a year ago. In Velsen-Zuid he made 37 games in the past year, which made PEC Zwolle decide to pick him up at AZ after his contract expired.

PEC Zwolle says goodbye to Xavier Mous and Nigel Bertrams and replaces them by Kostas Lamprou and Schendelaar. “In Alkmaar and later at Telstar I have been able to develop well in recent years. I was able to make significant steps in the past season and now I notice that I am ready for the next step,” Schendelaar said on the website of his new employer. “When I heard that PEC Zwolle showed interest in me, I quickly got in touch with the club. Here they have a clear plan with me and I want to develop further in the coming years.”

“In the past two seasons at Jong AZ and Telstar I have made a lot of minutes and that leaves me wanting more. I want to present myself as well as possible at the start of the preparation and I am determined to give everything for that,” said the young goalkeeper. Technical manager Mike Willems calls Schendelaar a ‘talented goalkeeper with his own style’. “It was clear early on that he is a good goalkeeper.”

“Andries Jonker wanted me to have me when he was still at Arsenal”

Jasper Schendelaar previously highlighted football zone in the Talentscout.Read article

“It was not for nothing that clubs like Arsenal and Ajax were after him,” continues Willems. “Jasper was allowed to join the first selection at AZ at a young age and has been able to develop in the lee. In recent seasons he has already proven to be a great goalkeeper in the First Division. We have visited Jasper many times in recent years and he has convinced us. Now it is up to him to make a name for himself here in Zwolle and to assert himself.”