Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 13:44• Last update: 13:49

Vitesse has captured goalkeeper Eric Verstappen. The 27-year-old keeper has recently been training with the selection of trainer Thomas Letsch and must serve as a filler for the goalkeepers’ guild, as Daan Reiziger has been out of circulation for a long time due to a wrist injury. Verstappen has signed a contract until the end of the season, which includes an option for an extra year.

“Daan Reiziger underwent surgery on his wrist last week and will be out of circulation at least until the winter break,” technical director Johannes Spors explains the arrival of Verstappen on the club’s official website. “Because the flush with our keepers has become thinner due to Daan’s injury and we don’t want to take any risks with it, we have secured an extra goalkeeper with Eric Verstappen. Eric has been training with our first selection for two months and has left a good impression during this period. It’s good that we can now officially welcome him.”

Verstappen himself is proud that the training period at Vitesse has led to a contract. “I am happy that I can now officially call myself Vitessenaar, because I really like it at this club,” says the goalkeeper. “I am on the field every day with a lot of energy and I enjoy working with my fellow goalkeepers, the players and the staff. In addition, it is a nice bonus that after a number of German years I am going to work in the Netherlands again.” Vitesse will visit Tottenham Hotspur in the Conference League on Thursday. Verstappen will be the third goalkeeper on the bench behind Markus Schubert and Jeroen Houwen in that game.

Verstappen was without a club this season, after gaining experience in Germany in recent years. The closing post kept in the past for Eintracht Braunschweig, TeBe Berlin and Würzburger Kickers, among others. With the latter club, he was promoted to the 2. Bundesliga in 2020, only to be relegated a year later. Verstappen made two appearances in the 2. Bundesliga, where he was brought in once as a striker. In the Netherlands, the goalkeeper has a history with VVV-Venlo, PSV and De Graafschap.