Joey Veerman returns confidently to Zeist after Bundesliga success

Joey Veerman returns to Zeist full of confidence, after he, as a proud Bundesliga leader with Borussia Dortmund, has won the fourth consecutive competitive match and thereby confirmed his place with the Dutch national team. The 0‑1 victory over VfB Stuttgart in the Mercedes‑Benz‑Arena, in which he took a free kick and a corner, underscored his impact.

Bundesliga debut in Stuttgart

With Borussia Dortmund, Veerman played on Saturday evening in the Mercedes‑Benz‑Arena against VfB Stuttgart. 28 minutes were played before referee Tobias Stieler awarded a free kick; Veerman let a curled ball from just outside the penalty area hover over the goal, but the ball went a few metres wide. The moment showed that early in his debut season he earned the confidence of the coach and teammates.

Midfield role and yellow card

Coach Niko Kovac positioned Veerman centrally next to the 25‑year‑old German international Felix Nmecha, with Veerman dictating the build‑up from deep. From the first minute until halftime he kept the ball in the middle and orchestrated the play. After the break he committed a foul on Angelo Stiller, received a yellow card and was substituted in the 62nd minute for Jobe Bellingham. Bellingham then delivered a measured pass to Maximilian Beier for the only goal of the match.

Statistics and impact

Until his substitution, Veerman was the player with the most successful passes (48) and third in ball contacts (65) on the pitch. Dortmund thereby achieved their third consecutive competitive win and rose to twelve points after four matches, a dream start that has occurred only for the fifth time in the club’s history. Veerman celebrates the early success, according to reporter Maarten Wijffels. The team finished with a 0‑1 victory and confirmed its position as Bundesliga leader.

The new national team coach Xavi wants to use Veerman and Teun Koopmeiners alternately as controlling midfielders in the upcoming internationals. He left Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst out of the first squad, giving Veerman more space. Peter Bosz, who already said in 2023: “I see a 6 in you”, confirmed that the role now suits Veerman. Xavi’s confidence underscores Veerman’s growth since his departure from PSV. The squad continues to prepare for the upcoming qualifying matches.

With his first major achievement in the Bundesliga under his belt, Veerman now focuses on the upcoming internationals, where he, according to Xavi, will have the key role in midfield. He returns to Zeist full of confidence, ready to share his experience at Dortmund with the Dutch national team. His commitment in the German competition is seen as an example for the young players in the national squad.