Sven van Beek is leaving sc Heerenveen after three seasons. The 29-year-old defender is set for a transfer to Qatari promoted Al-Shahania SC, where he will be reunited with Pelle van Amersfoort.

Van Beek was still contracted to the Abe Lenstra Stadium until mid-2025. It is not known how much Heerenveen will earn from his transfer. The central defender came over from Feyenoord on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 and has played 82 official matches for the club since then.

“Sven has been an important and valuable player for us and has always clearly indicated that he would like to embark on another foreign adventure,” general manager Ferry de Haan begins on the Frisians' club website.

“Of course we are sad to see him leave, but we also wish him this step. We wish him all the success and happiness in the Qatari League.”

Van Beek was captain of Heerenveen for the past two seasons. For the new coach Robin van Persie, the departure of the man-marker is a sensitive loss.

The new head coach previously saw club top scorer Van Amersfoort leave for Al-Shahania, while Syb van Ottele opted for a transfer-free move to Fortuna Sittard.

The departure of the trio is offset by the arrival of six new players: Danilo Al-Saed (Sandefjord), Luuk Brouwers (FC Utrecht), Levi Smans (VVV-Venlo), Sam Kersten (PEC Zwolle), Amara Condé (1. FC Magdeburg) and Mateja Milovanovic (Jong Ajax).

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