Greg . 2 days ago

Eredivisie Team of the Week: Veerman leads the way, Ajax heroes join in tandem

With the first round of the 2025/26 Eredivisie behind us, it's time to figure out who to keep an eye on for the remaining 33 rounds.

Here are the eleven stars that shone the brightest in the opening weekend in the Netherlands.

GK: Gonzalo Crettaz (NEC) - 8.

1In their first game after losing Robin Roefs to Sunderland and Stijn van Gassel to Excelsior, free-agent acquisition Gonzalo Crettaz showed he was up to the test as the Argentine stopper notched six saves.

All six, which prevented an xG of 1.

69, came against shots from inside the box.

An excellent start to life in the Eredivisie for the former Castellon stopper.

DEF: Youri Regeer (Ajax) - 7.

9A surprise in Ajax's starting line-up and our Team of the Week, Youri Regeer played a steady season opener against Telstar, which Ajax won 2-0.

Regeer, who surprisingly obtained the nod over Lucas Rosa and last season's starter Anton Gaaei, barely put a foot wrong with a pass completion percentage of 97%, seven won duels out of nine, two won tackles, and a clearance.

DEF: Anselmo Garcia-MacNulty (PEC Zwolle) - 7.

9The Spanish-Irish Garcia-MacNulty was one of PEC Zwolle's bright spots in the final weeks of the 2024/25 Eredivisie season, and the defender continued that fine create in the new campaign.

PEC beat FC Twente 1-0 in a surprising season opener.

Garcia MacNulty cleared the ball 11 times, completed seven of his 11 long passes, won three of his four duels, and intercepted the ball on three occasions.

 DEF: Mike van der Hoorn (FC Utrecht) - 8.

0FC Utrecht have started the season in red-hot create, and Mike van der Hoorn's consistency is a major factor in the team's successes in the Eredivisie and beyond the Dutch borders.

During Utrecht's 4-0 win against Heracles Almelo, Van der Hoorn won seven of his 11 duels, cleared the ball five times, created one big chance, and completed 84% of his passes (38/45).

This week's top XI from the EredivisieBetopickDEF: Denzo Kasius (AZ) - 8.

4AZ right-support Denzo Kasius has appreciated a magnificent start to the 2025/26 season.

After missing the mark in AZ's first game against Ilves, Kasius has been engaged in three goals in his last three games with a goal against Ilves, an assist against Vaduz, and now, a goal against FC Groningen.

His opener on Sunday - a low-driven shot that obtained ricocheted in by Groningen goalkeeper Hidde Jurjus - was one of two attempts against the Pride of the North.

The attacking-minded support notched 79 touches, won all six of his duels, and cleared the ball four times in a commanding 4-1 season-opening win.

MID: Joey Veerman (PSV) - 9.

4 (Player of the Week)Our Player of the Week comes from PSV’s crushing 6-1 win over Sparta Rotterdam.

Midfield general Joey Veerman, who’s being linked to Brentford, scored from distance and provided two assists in the reigning champions’ flawless season opener.

The Volendam native recorded 105 touches in 90 minutes, completed 73 of 84 passes (87%), notched a pass completion percentage of 84% (42/50) in the final third, and created one big chance against Sparta.

Joey Veerman's stats against SpartaOpta via StatsPerform / Marcel van Dorst / DeFodi Images / ProfimediaHis magnificent rating of 9.

4 has acquired Joey Veerman his first Player of the Week title, and it feels like it won't be his last.

MID: Levi Smans (Heerenveen) - 8.

2Heerenveen disappointed in their season opener as promoted side FC Volendam left Frisia with a point, but Levi Smans offered the home crowd plenty to appreciate during the 1-1 sketch.

Smans, who was compelled to leave the pitch after 53 minutes with a seemingly significant knee injury, recorded one assist, 30 touches, 10 completed passes in the final third, and six won duels against Volendam.

Let’s wish his injury won’t keep him out for long.

MID: Steven Berghuis (Ajax) - 8.

3A struggling Ajax side possessed a tough time getting going against promoted side Telstar, who were beaten 2-0, largely thanks to the creative brain of Steven Berghuis.

The veteran started in midfield and created the opener with a perfectly timed deep ball to Wout Weghorst, who escaped from the tight coverage of Guus Offerhaus and slotted the ball home.

The two also connected for the 2-0, which Berghuis created from a corner.

Besides the assists, Berghuis shot five times, completed 56 of his 68 passes, moved 7/10 on his long passes and crosses, and recorded 82 touches.

FW: Ivan Perisic (PSV) - 8.

8The man who FC Barcelona wanted handed over his create from last season into this season – Ivan Perisic scored a goal and assisted two more in PSV’s 6-1 win, granting him an 8.

8 rating.

The Croatian veteran was a threat all evening long as he fired three attempts at Joel Drommel’s goal, completed 87% of his passes, and led the PSV attack in a clinical victory.

FW: Koki Ogawa (NEC) - 8.

5Japanese striker Koki Ogawa obtained NEC going against promoted outfit Excelsior, who were welcomed support in the Eredivisie with a 5-0 beat.

Ogawa scored twice against the Rotterdam side – once with a brilliant overhead kick, and once with a perfectly timed header.

The Japanese hitman scored with two of his three touches inside the opposition’s box, showcasing a level of efficiency that carried NEC to a commanding home win.

FW: Wout Weghorst (Ajax) - 8.

5Where Berghuis provided the assists, Wout Weghorst provided the crucial finishing touches as Ajax battled their way to a win.

Weghorst opened the scoring in the first half with a calm complete before putting the game to bed in the 83rd minute, when the former Manchester United striker led the ball home from a corner.

Weghorst also created a big chance, won seven of his 11 duels, and recorded 47 touches in 90 minutes (both second-most in a league game since the start of last season).

Pursue the Dutch Eredivisie on Betopick.