Overmars prepares Antwerp overhaul as multiple players face exit

Technical director Marc Overmars is set to reshape Royal Antwerp FC’s squad, with several players earmarked for departure as the Belgian club looks to trim a roster of over thirty after a strong two‑win start to the season in the Eredivisie.

Royal Antwerp FC began the campaign with two victories, signalling a promising start. The squad now numbers more than thirty players, creating intense competition for places across the roster. This depth has prompted the club to consider a substantial reshuffle.

Squad reduction plan

Overmars has announced that the selection will be sharply reduced over the next two weeks, with the aim of generating revenue from outgoing transfers. He emphasised the need to balance a leaner squad with financial prudence.

Verschillende attackers and young players are the primary focus of the clearance drive. Voor the upcoming window, the technical director is actively seeking solutions for those who no longer feature in the manager’s plans.

Players targeted for exit

Anthony Valencia and Farouck Adekami are among those expected to leave this summer, as reported by Het . Valencia, whose contract is running down, attracted attention after a strong performance against KV Kortrijk. Farouck Adekami is linked with clubs in France and Portugal, and any future deal would require Antwerp to surrender twenty percent of the transfer value to the Right to Dream Academy.

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Mukhammadali Urinboev and Gabriel Jesus David are also on the shortlist. Urinboev struggled to break through last season and found the physical intensity of Belgian football challenging. Jesus David has fallen out of the first‑team picture and is drawing interest from the Austrian second division.

Gerard Vandeplas may depart on a temporary basis. The striker impressed enough to earn a place in the starting XI for a period, but Antwerp prefers a loan move over a permanent transfer, given his position behind Frey, Porozo and Narh. Defender Andreas Verstraeten is another candidate for a loan or permanent exit, with several Belgian clubs already inquiring.

Core players such as Taishi Nozawa and Jules Ahoka are expected to stay, while the club aims to extend the contracts of Semm Renders, Xander Dierckx and Youssef Hamdaoui. Overmars’ priority remains finding new clubs for those not in the future plans.

Earlier in the window, Antwerp said farewell to familiar names including Vincent Janssen, Gyrano Kerk, Glenn Bijl and PSV loanee Isaac Babadi, underscoring the club’s willingness to reshape the roster.