Leeds United waved goodbye to a number of players on a free transfer this summer as The 49ers chopped a lot of dead wood from the squad, and one player has just joined Club Brugge.
Cody Drameh, Luke Ayling, Ian Poveda and Jamie Shackleton have all joined Championship clubs on frees. Drameh at Hull, Ayling at Middlesbrough, Poveda to Sunderland and Shackleton at rivals Sheffield United.
Leeds slashed the wage bill in doing so, as The 49ers streamline the squad. They sorted out the future of all eight of Victor Orta’s loan army, with Robin Koch, Luis Sinisterra, Marc Roca and Diego Llorente sold.
Another that has left Elland Road on a free transfer is 21-year-old goalkeeper Dani van den Heuvel. The Dutch stopper leaves Leeds after failing to play for the first team, but spending four years on the books.
Club Brugge sign Dani van den Heuvel after Leeds release
The Dutch goalkeeper, who has an U21 cap for The Netherlands, did play around 50 times for the U21 and U18 side at Leeds. That is despite breaking his back in the summer of 2022 after a heavy car crash.
Van den Heuvel posted on Instagram today, a couple of months after being released by Leeds. Joel Piroe and Illan Meslier were among those to comment on the goalkeeper’s post, as did defender Pascal Struijk.
Now, it is clear why van den Heuvel has waved goodbye to Leeds fans today. That is because Belgian champions Club Brugge have confirmed the signing of van den Heuvel on a free, signing a two-year deal.
Brilliant move for van den Heuvel but he will be third choice
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet remains Brugge’s first-choice goalkeeper, as Brugge prepare for another push to land their 20th Belgian League title as well as Champions League campaign.
Belgium U21 stopper Nordin Jackers is Brugge’s second-choice goalkeeper and it is expected that van den Heuvel will play back-up to those two options. Still, a big move to a massive club for the Dutchman.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
