Transfers
Excelsior cashes in As Sanches Fernandes joins england's Huddersfield
While Excelsior celebrates a "million‑plus" fee from the departure of 25‑year‑old right‑winger Sanches Fernandes, Huddersfield Town in England prepares to welcome him pending a visa and medical clearance. The contrast pits a Dutch club’s immediate financial boost against an English side’s squad reinforcement.
Sanches Fernandes is set to leave Excelsior for Huddersfield Town, as reported by on Tuesday evening. The move confirms the Rotterdammer’s switch to the English club.
Excelsior receives a "miljoenenbedrag", described as a considerable amount, though the exact transfer sum remains undisclosed. The Kralingers therefore secure a notable cash injection.
The player awaits his visa and, if the medical examination is successful, will sign a multi‑year contract with Huddersfield. This pending paperwork delays the finalisation of the transfer.
Born in Rotterdam with Cape Verdean roots, the Rotterdammer spent part of his youth at Excelsior before moving to the FC Utrecht academy at the end of 2020. He returned to Excelsior in mid‑2023 and has become one of the club’s key left‑footed attackers.
He departs the club after 104 appearances, contributing 20 goals and 13 assists. Those statistics underline his impact for the Kralingers.
At Huddersfield, he will join fellow former Excelsior player Ilias Bronkhorst, who transferred earlier this summer at age 29. Both will add experience to the Terriers’ roster.
Huddersfield have been competing in League One for three seasons, the third tier of English football. The Terriers previously featured in the Premier League between 2017 and 2019.
Former Huddersfield players such as Terence Kongolo and Carel Eiting also share a Dutch connection. Additionally, Amsterdam‑born Radinio Balker is currently under contract alongside Bronkhorst.
The juxtaposition highlights Excelsior’s immediate monetary gain against Huddersfield’s long‑term squad building, with the final steps of the transfer hinging on visa approval and a clean medical report.