A 37‑year‑old surprise: Dusan Tadic’s shock move to NEC

The 37‑year‑old striker Dusan Tadic completed a surprise transfer to NEC this week, a move that stunned the Dutch market after weeks of speculation. The deal arrived amid the club’s busy schedule in Nijmegen and was confirmed during a public event on the city’s main square.

Journalist Sander JanssenJournalist of VIMet reported that the arrival of Dusan Tadic represented an "enormous stunt on the transfer market" for the club. Janssen highlighted how the 37‑year‑old attacker had seemed long unattainable before NEC persisted.

NEC’s success in securing the player was credited to trainer Dick Schreuder and investor Marcel Boekhoorn, who together pushed the negotiations forward. Both men played pivotal roles in overcoming the obstacles that had previously blocked the transfer.

The city of Nijmegen was still buzzing from the Vierdaagse when the Champions League first‑round draw was shown on large screens at the Faberplein. That morning also saw NEC announce that main sponsor Nexperia had renewed its contract and that a new third kit would be unveiled.

Tadic chooses NEC over Ajax, citing Schreuder’s influence

General director Wilco van Schaik then took the stage, joking, "Dusan, Dusan?" before quickly correcting himself and introducing Emre Mor, who signed a two‑year contract with the club. The light‑hearted moment hinted at the rumors that a Tadic stunt was being prepared.

Exactly one week later NEC made the arrival of Dusan Tadic official, confirming the earlier speculation and confirming the club’s determination to bring the veteran forward.

Tadic’s Dutch résumé includes spells at FC Groningen, FC Twente and Ajax, where he worked under Alfred Schreuder at two of the clubs. His long‑standing relationship with trainer Dick Schreuder, who had occasionally met the attacker, helped smooth the final agreement.

Tadic clarifies Ajax talks: only trainer role, stays at NEC

Dick said, "Then the contact also grows over the years. Dusan has worked well with Alfred and at that time I also spoke with him. With PEC Zwolle we also played against Ajax, when I was a beginning head coach. I met him again. You automatically follow each other and that kept contact."

The transfer underscores NEC’s willingness to make bold moves in a market where veteran signings are rare, illustrating the club’s ambition to compete at higher levels despite limited resources.