Scouting the Eredivisie: Six Names for the Summer

Introduction

The Eredivisie has long been one of European football's most reliable sources of young talent. Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord have supplied players to the continent's biggest clubs for decades, but the pipeline runs deeper than the traditional powers. Clubs like Twente, Groningen and Go Ahead Eagles have increasingly become part of the same story, developing players whose output in the Dutch league is attracting attention well beyond the Netherlands.

The regular season is over, with the playoff rounds now underway. Using performance data from the 2025/26 campaign, we identified six young players whose numbers caught our attention this season and whose profiles are likely to generate significant interest in the summer transfer window.

Ones to Watch

Ahmetcan Kaplan — Centre-back, NEC Nijmegen

Born: 16/01/2003 | Nationality: Turkey | Height: 1.89m | Value: €5M | Pref. Foot: Left

On loan from Ajax, Kaplan has established himself as one of the more compelling defensive profiles in the Eredivisie this season. Across 25 appearances (23 starts, 2,240 minutes), the 22-year-old Turkish international stands out for his intensity and proactive defending: he ranks among the league's best centre-backs for defensive duels, aerial presence and tackles won. What makes his profile particularly modern is his ability with the ball: his dribbling and progressive carry numbers are unusually high for a centre-back, pointing to a player capable of breaking pressure through direct runs rather than simply recycling possession. Ajax hold his contract, and how they approach his situation in the summer will be worth monitoring.

Mats Rots — Left-back, FC Twente

Born: 11/03/2006 | Nationality: Netherlands | Height: 1.90m | Value: €10M | Pref. Foot: Left

A Twente academy product who spent the second half of last season on loan at Heracles Almelo before returning to establish himself as a first-team regular, Rots has been one of the most consistent performers in the league this season. Across 34 appearances (all as starter, 3,180 minutes), the 19-year-old recorded 4 goals and 4 assists, numbers that reflect a left-back whose contribution extends well into the attacking third. He ranks among the Eredivisie's best full-backs for dribbling, expected threat from carries, key passes and assists, combining overlapping runs with a high volume of touches inside the opposition box. He won the Johan Cruyff Talent of the Month award in December and has since been nominated for the Eredivisie Talent of the Year. Interest from Dutch and foreign clubs has already surfaced; Twente hold his contract until 2028, but the summer conversation around him has already started.

Jorthy Mokio — Defensive Midfielder, Ajax

Born: 29/02/2008 | Nationality: Belgium | Height: 1.84m | Value: €8M | Pref. Foot: Left

Mokio turns 18 in February of a leap year, which means he has only celebrated three birthdays in his life. That context makes what he has produced this season all the more striking. Signed from Gent in the summer of 2024, he made 25 appearances for Ajax (13 as starter, 1,432 minutes) and contributed 2 goals and 1 assist. The numbers that stand out are defensive: he ranks among the Eredivisie's best players for tackles won, defensive duels and ball recoveries, showing an intensity and anticipation that would be notable in a player several years older. His profile suits a modern ball-winning midfielder capable of pressing high, covering space and supporting build-up play. He recently chose to represent DR Congo internationally rather than Belgium, a decision that adds an additional layer of intrigue to a career that is only just beginning.

Stije Resink — Defensive Midfielder, FC Groningen

Born: 28/05/2003 | Nationality: Netherlands | Height: 1.86m | Value: €7M | Pref. Foot: Right

Resink has been one of the more complete midfield profiles in the Eredivisie this season, combining defensive volume with an attacking contribution that goes beyond what is typical for his position. Across 22 starts (2,058 minutes), the 22-year-old recorded 5 goals and 5 assists, numbers that reflect a box-to-box profile rather than a pure defensive one. He ranks highly for ball-winning, duel volume and recoveries in advanced areas, while his dribbling and expected threat from carries add a progressive dimension to his game. At Groningen, who operate with significantly fewer resources than the league's traditional clubs, those numbers carry additional weight.

Jakob Breum — Attacking Midfielder, Go Ahead Eagles

Born: 17/11/2003 | Nationality: Denmark | Height: 1.78m | Value: €4.5M | Pref. Foot: Right

Breum has quietly produced one of the more creative attacking midfield seasons in the Eredivisie, largely under the radar given Go Ahead Eagles' modest profile within the league. Across 27 appearances (23 starts, 2,074 minutes), the 22-year-old Danish midfielder recorded 6 goals and 5 assists, underpinned by ranking among the league's best for key passes and passes into the box. His game is built on vision and technical efficiency rather than volume: high dribbling success, strong ball retention and intelligent progressive passing combine with defensive work off the ball that makes him a functional presence in both phases. At €4.5M, he represents the kind of value profile that tends to attract clubs one or two levels above.

Mika Godts — Left Winger, Ajax

Born: 07/06/2005 | Nationality: Belgium | Height: 1.76m | Value: €25M | Pref. Foot: Right

In a season where Ajax finished fifth and cycled through multiple coaches, Godts was the one constant. The 20-year-old Belgian winger produced 17 goals and 11 assists across 31 Eredivisie appearances, numbers that made him the most decisive attacking player in the league by combined contribution. He ranks among the Eredivisie's best for dribbling, expected threat from carries, key passes and assists, combining direct running with consistent final-third output. His omission from Belgium's World Cup squad, despite those numbers, generated significant debate; the decision appears to reflect competition for wide positions rather than any question about his quality. Transfer interest is substantial, with a number of Premier League clubs reported to be monitoring his situation ahead of the summer window.

Conclusion

The six profiles above span different clubs, positions and stages of development. Some, like Godts and Rots, are already generating concrete transfer interest. Others, like Mokio and Breum, are names worth tracking across the next season. What the Eredivisie continues to offer is a competitive environment where young players get meaningful minutes, and where the data tends to surface quality before the broader market catches up.