Not all clubs in Dutch professional football have the opportunity to throw around tons or millions this summer. A transfer-free purchase could possibly offer a solution. Football zone lists 20 Eredivisie players who have been without a club since this week.

Mathew Ryan (AZ)

Mathew Ryan was the first goalkeeper at AZ for the past 1.5 years. The 32-year-old goalkeeper played 64 official matches for the team from Alkmaar. Ryan will have earned a more than decent salary, which probably makes him only achievable as a (reserve) goalkeeper for clubs in the top of the Eredivisie.

Joshua Brenet (FC Twente)

Joshua Brenet has been without a club since the end of March. At the time, his contract was terminated by FC Twente, because he was sentenced to a month in prison for driving without a valid license twice. That did not stop national coach Dick Advocaat from letting the right back make his debut for Curaçao and there is a good chance that Brenet will also find a new club soon.

Hidde ter Avest (FC Utrecht)

For the 27-year-old Hidde ter Avest, his employment with FC Utrecht recently came to an end after three seasons. The right back eventually played 106 official matches in the shirt of the Domstedelingen. Last season he played in 27 Eredivisie matches. Recently his name was already mentioned in the corridors at Heracles and PEC.

Shawn Adewoye (RKC Waalwijk)

The 24-year-old Shawn Adewoye was a regular at RKC last season under trainer Henk Fraser. The central defender played 29 league matches and showed that he can handle the level perfectly. Reportedly, several clubs from the Eredivisie are currently targeting Adewoye.

Syb van Ottele (sc Heerenveen)

Syb van Ottele recently said goodbye to sc Heerenveen after 3.5 years of loyal service. The 22-year-old centre-back, who spent the past season between bench and starting line-up, was disappointed not to receive a new contract offer. Omrop Friesland he said in mid-May that there was at least enough interest in him.

André Ramalho (PSV)

The door for André Ramalho at PSV is still ajar, but it seems likely that the Brazilian centre-back will opt for a new adventure. Ramalho has been linked to a return to his home country on several occasions. It is also not obvious that the 32-year-old man-marker will make a transfer to another club in the Eredivisie, although surprises can never be completely ruled out.

Juriën Gaari (RKC Waalwijk)

Juriën Gaari was in the same boat as van Ottele in Friesland at RKC last season. The thirty-year-old central defender was a starter for about half of the Eredivisie matches under trainer Fraser, in the other half he often came on as a substitute. Gaari eventually played 29 league matches. Football International reported in mid-May that the Curaçao international can count on serious interest from PEC Zwolle.

Ar'jany Martha (Ajax)

In November 2023, John van 't Schip surprised friend and foe by giving Ar'jany Martha his debut in Ajax 1. The twenty-year-old talent was surprisingly used as a left back. After a few strong first performances, Martha was unable to continue his good form. Van 't Schip then put a stop to his experiment, meaning that the youngster had to settle for playing minutes in the Amsterdam reserves team again. Foot Mercato recently linked the transfer-free Ajax player to Auxerre, Villarreal and Monza.

Jetro Willems (Heracles Almelo)

After a season at Heracles Almelo, Jetro Willems, unlike Dijks at Fortuna, will have to look for a new club. The Almelo Eredivisionist decided earlier this year not to exercise the option in the contract of the 22-times international of Oranje. He started as a regular player at Heracles, but did not get any playing time in the last three matches – just like in a number of previous matches.

Mitchell Dijks (Fortuna Sittard)

The 31-year-old Mitchell Dijks was an important starting player in his first season at Fortuna Sittard under trainer Danny Buijs. The left back signed for only one year in the summer of 2023, which means he is currently a free agent. Buijs said in an interview with The Limburger however, there is a good chance that Dijks will stay at Fortuna longer.

Anas Tahiri (sc Heerenveen)

Anas Tahiri played for sc Heerenveen for the past 2.5 years. The contract of the 29-year-old midfielder was not extended this summer, so the Moroccan has to look for a new club. Last winter he was already close to a transfer to Heracles. Transferwatch reported at the end of May that the Almelo residents are in talks with Tahari again.

Thom Haye (sc Heerenveen)

Tahari is not the only midfielder to leave Heerenveen for free. The fact that star Thom Haye also did not yield a transfer fee is undoubtedly seen as a major disappointment. Nevertheless, the Frisians deliberately chose to do so. Haye would have liked to make the move to Italian Como in the winter, which was later promoted to the Serie A. However, the Indonesian international was held to his contract, which means he can now determine his own sporting future.

Oguzhan Özyakup (Fortuna Sittard)

Two seasons ago, Oguzhan Özyakup came to Fortuna Sittard with high expectations. However, he never quite managed to live up to them. The midfielder was stuck at 1,013 playing minutes last season, divided over 22 matches and was good for a goal and an assist. He also struggled with the necessary injuries. At the end of May it became clear that Fortuna was talking to Özyakup about a longer stay, but so far those talks have not yielded anything.

Dani de Wit (AZ)

The chance that we will see Dani de Wit playing in the Eredivisie next season is not very big. The attacking midfielder recently said in conversation with Football International know how to be open to a foreign adventure. Kicker then reported that De Wit can count on interest from the German VfL Bochum and several clubs from the Serie A. He has been under contract with AZ since 2019 and ultimately played 188 official matches for the Alkmaar team. In those matches he was good for 46 goals and 21 assists.

Younes Namli (PEC Zwolle)

Younes Namli has done what he came to PEC for in the summer of 2023: help the Zwolle team to survive. With his 4 goals and 8 assists, the thirty-year-old Dane ultimately played an important role in achieving the goal. Namli now wants to take another nice step. Within the Eredivisie, he can be an interesting option for clubs such as FC Twente, FC Utrecht and also AZ.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord)

A few months ago, thirty-year-old Alireza Jahanbakhsh was told that Feyenoord would not exercise the option in his expiring contract. The Iranian was important every now and then with a goal or an assist, but he never really became an undisputed regular in Rotterdam. Unlike many players on this list, Jahanbakhsh seems unattainable for many clubs in the Eredivisie because of the salary he earned at Feyenoord.

Sylla Sow (NEC)

At Go Ahead Eagles, Sylla Sow grew into a true super sub during the first half of the past season by scoring five times as a substitute. This earned him a transfer to NEC in the winter, the club of his hometown and where he completed his youth training. In the shirt of the Nijmegen team, Sow also had to settle for a role as a substitute on many occasions. He can now focus on finding a new club, because the option in his contract was not exercised.

Mats Seuntjens (RKC Waalwijk)

Mats Seuntjens has been linked with a transfer to promoted NAC Breda for some time now, but there is still no sign of white smoke. Nevertheless, it seems that the attacker will be presented by the Pearl of the SouthIn 2012, Seuntjens made his debut in the NAC shirt in professional football, which means that at the age of 32 he can now come full circle.

Othmane Boussaid (FC Utrecht)

FC Utrecht must fear a definitive departure of Othmane Boussaid. The 24-year-old Belgian is now officially a free agent, although the Domstedelingen would like to continue with him, Boussaid has also been offered a new contract. Football zone know that the creative player, who scored 4 goals and provided 3 assists last season, can count on interest from Spain, Germany and the Middle East.

Iñigo Córdoba (Fortuna Sittard)

The adventure of 27-year-old Iñigo Córdoba at Fortuna Sittard has come to an end after two years. The Spanish left winger was also always assured of a place in the starting eleven last season. Córdoba has indicated that he is looking for a new club. He played on loan for Go Ahead Eagles in the past. Is Córdoba's future in the Eredivisie again?

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