Transfers

MERCATO

OFFICIEL

Sbai Heads to Utrecht: NEC Nijmegen Midfielder Secures Loan Switch

Yousri Sbai has completed a loan move from NEC Nijmegen to Jong Utrecht, aiming to secure more consistent minutes and sharpen his tactical edge in the Eerste Divisie.

2026-09-03

Yousri Sbai has officially joined Jong Utrecht on a loan deal from NEC Nijmegen, with the move confirmed on 2026-08-26. The 21-year-old Dutch midfielder is set to spend the upcoming campaign developing his game in the Dutch second tier, looking to build on a season that yielded valuable but limited first-team exposure.

At a glance

• Player: Yousri Sbai (21, Midfielder)
• Move: Loan from NEC Nijmegen to Jong Utrecht
• Date: 2026-08-26

Career context

Sbai’s recent trajectory has been defined by movement between the Eredivisie and the Eerste Divisie. He began the 2025 season on the books of NEC Nijmegen, where he made two brief appearances in the Eredivisie (11 minutes). In January 2026, he was sent on loan to VVV Venlo in the Eerste Divisie, where he established himself as a regular starter, making 17 appearances and logging 1,291 minutes. Upon returning to NEC Nijmegen in June 2026, he was unable to secure a sustained role in the first team, leading to this second loan move to Jong Utrecht to find a platform for regular football.

How he fits at his new club

Jong Utrecht operates as the reserve and development side of FC Utrecht, competing in the Eerste Divisie. The team’s tactical setup prioritizes high pressing, quick transitions, and possession-based build-up from the midfield. Sbai’s profile—characterized by strong defensive attributes (defence rating of 93) and high duel success rate (62%)—suggests he is suited to a role as a box-to-box or defensive midfielder who can disrupt opposition play and win back possession. His high technical rating (80) also indicates the comfort on the ball required to execute the possession patterns of the Jong Utrecht system.

MERCATO

From

NEC Nijmegen

→

To

Jong Utrecht

loan · 2026-08-26

Player profile

Yousri Sbai

21 ans · Midfielder · #33 · Netherlands

19
Apps

0
Goals

0
Assists

1302
Minutes

6.88
Rating

Recent numbers

During his loan spell at VVV Venlo in the Eerste Divisie (2025 season), Sbai produced the following statistics: - Appearances: 17 (15 lineups) - Minutes Played: 1,291 - Pass Accuracy: 76% (564 total passes, 7 key passes) - Defensive Actions: 49 tackles, 19 interceptions, 5 blocks - Dribbles: 10 successful out of 23 attempts (43% success rate) - Duels Won: 99 out of 159 (62%) - Disciplinary: 3 yellow cards, 15 fouls committed, 16 fouls drawn - Average Rating: 6.88

In his limited Eredivisie action for NEC Nijmegen, he registered a rating of 6.9 over 11 minutes, with 3 passes completed at 66% accuracy and 1 block.

Key takeaways

• Development Focus: The loan to Jong Utrecht provides Sbai with the platform to play regular, high-minute football in the Eerste Divisie, following a period of fragmented minutes at NEC Nijmegen.
• Defensive Profile: His high duel-winning percentage (62%), combined with 49 tackles and 19 interceptions in 17 games, marks him as a physically robust and disruptive presence in midfield.
• Room for Offensive Growth: While his defensive and technical baselines are solid, Sbai has yet to register a goal or assist in senior football (0 goals, 0 assists across 19 total appearances), indicating that his offensive output remains an area for development.

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