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Maertens swaps Leuven for Leeuwarden as Cambuur seal free-midfield capture
Belgian midfielder Mathieu Maertens has completed a free transfer from OH Leuven to Dutch outfit Cambuur, the deal confirmed on 20 August 2026.
Mathieu Maertens has traded the Jupiler Pro League for the Eerste Divisie, completing a free transfer from OH Leuven to Cambuur on 20 August 2026. The 30-year-old Belgian midfielder, who spent the 2025 campaign making 35 league appearances for Leuven, will now add his engine and passing range to a Leeuwarden side chasing a playoff push.
At a glance
- Age/position: 30, Midfielder
- Deal: Free transfer, 20 August 2026, OH Leuven → Cambuur
- Last season: 35 apps, 1,301 mins, 1 goal, 3 assists, rating 6.6
Career context
Maertens' route to Cambuur has been anything but linear. The midfielder began the 2026 summer window as a free agent, his contract at OH Leuven having expired. On 29 June 2026 he was officially listed as a free agent, only to turn around four weeks later and sign for Cambuur on a free transfer. The paperwork was ratified on 20 August, giving the 30-year-old the chance to restart his career in the Netherlands.
His journeyman path stretches back to 2017, when he arrived at OH Leuven from Cercle Brugge. Over nine seasons in Belgium he built a reputation as a durable, box-to-box presence, logging 35 league games in 2025 alone despite a catalogue of niggles that kept him sidelined for significant spells.
How he fits at his new club
At Cambuur, Maertens arrives at a club that plays its home games on artificial turf at the 11,230-capacity Cambuur Stadion. The Dutch side, founded in 1964, will value his work rate and distribution as they aim to bridge the gap to the Eredivisie playoffs. His positional attributes — technique 81, duels 81, creation 59 — suggest a midfielder comfortable carrying possession out of pressure and contributing to both defensive transitions and attacking moves.
Standing 185cm tall and weighing 71kg, Maertens brings a physical profile well-suited to the demands of central midfield. His passing accuracy of 74% across 313 total passes last season indicates a reliable short-to-medium range distributor, while 19 key passes show he can unlock defences without dominating possession.
Apps
Goals
Assists
Minutes
Rating
Recent numbers
Maertens' 2025 season with OH Leuven was defined by consistency and availability. Across 35 Jupiler Pro League appearances he played 1,301 minutes, starting just 12 games from the opening whistle but featuring regularly as a substitute — a role that highlighted his versatility and stamina.
His statistical output tells the story of a supporting midfielder: 1 goal, 3 assists, and a match rating of 6.6. He won 90 of 193 duels (47%), completed 9 of 20 dribbles (45%), and drew 32 fouls while committing 33 — a near-even ratio that reflects his willingness to engage physically. His 23 tackles, 12 interceptions and 2 blocks add defensive steel, while 17 shots on target from 43 attempts show he wasn't afraid to get forward.
The injury history is a concern, however. Maertens was sidelined five separate times between November 2023 and August 2025, including two hamstring issues and a back injury. The most recent spell ran from 5 to 23 August 2025 — a period that overlapped with the start of the 2025–26 season.
Key takeaways
- Durability questioned: Five separate injury spells between 2023 and 2025 raise concerns about his availability for a full Eerste Divisie campaign.
- Versatile role player: 23 substitute appearances and 12 starts suggest he's effective coming off the bench or filling in across midfield roles.
- Set-piece reliability: No missed penalties (0/0) and no red cards in 35 appearances underscores his disciplined approach.
| Metric | 2025 (OH Leuven) | Maertens Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Apps / Minutes | 35 / 1,301 | 90/193 duels won |
| Goals / Assists | 1 / 3 | 19 key passes |
| Pass accuracy | 74% | 9/20 dribbles won |
| Rating | 6.6 | Technique 81 / Duels 81 |
Maertens will wear the number 33 jersey at Cambuur, adding experience and work rate to a midfield that will need both in the push for Dutch top-flight football.