Transfers
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Mike Eerdhuijzen Heads to KV Mechelen in Proven Defender Switch
The 25-year-old Dutch defender departs Utrecht for the Belgian side in a confirmed transfer completed on 20 August 2026.
Defender Mike Eerdhuijzen has completed a transfer from Utrecht to KV Mechelen, with the move confirmed on 20 August 2026. The 25-year-old Netherlands international brings a physical, duel-focused profile to the Belgian side after a season in which he started 11 Eredivisie matches and featured across domestic and European competition.
At a glance
- Age 25, position Defender, number 44
- Joined KV Mechelen from Utrecht on 20 August 2026 (Transfer)
- 745 minutes and 31 duels won across 15 Utrecht appearances in 2025
Career context
Born in Volendam on 13 July 2000, Eerdhuijzen began his senior career at local level before moving on a free transfer to Sparta Rotterdam in July 2022. After two seasons with Sparta, during which he won the Derde Divisie in 2018/19 and finished second in the Eerste Divisie in 2021/22, he headed to Utrecht in a transfer completed on 23 June 2025. A second, formalised switch was registered on 30 June 2025 before his departure to KV Mechelen on 20 August 2026.
His trophy cabinet reflects a journeyman’s progression: a Derde Divisie winner’s medal and an Eerste Divisie runners-up honour from his Sparta spell, alongside another Eerste Divisie second-place finish registered later in his career.
How he fits at his new club
Listed at 194 cm and 85 kg, Eerdhuijzen is a commanding figure built for aerial and physical duels. His positional attributes — a 100 in duels, 57 in defence, and 62 in technique — suggest a defender comfortable in one-on-one situations and capable of stepping into midfield passing sequences. His 88% pass accuracy across the 2025 Eredivisie campaign aligns with the demands of a ball-playing centre-half operating in a possession-based system.
Joining KV Mechelen, who play at the 16,715-capacity AFAS Stadion in Malines, Eerdhuijzen adds depth to a back line that values structure and set-piece resilience. His experience across the Eredivisie and European competition — including UEFA Europa League outings — gives him familiarity with high-intensity, physically demanding football that translates well to the Belgian Pro League.
Apps
Goals
Assists
Minutes
Rating
Recent numbers
During the 2025 season with Utrecht, Eerdhuijzen made 15 appearances, starting 11 and coming on as a substitute 4 times. He accumulated 745 minutes of action, posting a 6.98 overall rating. His defensive output included 31 duels won from 48 attempted (65% success rate), 10 tackles, 9 interceptions, 7 blocks, and 486 total passes.
In the Eredivisie specifically, he played 11 matches, starting 8, and logged 493 minutes with a 6.81 rating. His league numbers included 19 duels won from 29, 7 tackles, 7 interceptions, 5 blocks, and 292 passes at 88% accuracy.
His KNVB Beker outing saw him play the full 90 minutes, earning a 7.6 rating, winning 5 of 8 duels, and completing 71 passes. In the UEFA Europa League, he featured in three matches, starting twice, for 162 minutes and a 7.4 rating.
Most recently, Eerdhuijzen played the full 90 minutes in Utrecht’s 1–2 Eredivisie defeat to Groningen on 9 August 2026, earning a 5.9 rating after winning 2 of 10 duels and completing 41 of 123 passes. Four days later, he played 45 minutes in a 1–4 loss to AZ Alkmaar, posting a 6.5 rating.
Key takeaways
- Durability: Eerdhuijzen played 745 minutes across 15 appearances in 2025, demonstrating reliability when called upon.
- Defensive output: Averaged 6.4 duels per game, winning 65% of them, with 0.6 tackles and 0.6 interceptions per appearance.
- Passing reliability: Maintained an 88% pass accuracy rate in Eredivisie play, underscoring his composure on the ball.
- European experience: Already accustomed to the physicality of European competition, having played in the Europa League.
- Settled in defence: Posted zero red cards and only one yellow across all competitions in 2025.
| Metric | 2025 Season | Per 90 mins |
|---|---|---|
| Duels won | 31 / 48 | 3.7 |
| Tackles | 10 | 1.2 |
| Interceptions | 9 | 1.1 |
| Blocks | 7 | 0.8 |
| Pass accuracy | 88% | — |
Eerdhuijzen’s arrival at KV Mechelen represents a steady, experience-driven addition to their defensive unit, offering a blend of aerial dominance and distribution that should suit the demands of Belgian football.