Telstar has undergone a major squad overhaul this summer transfer window, with a host of key departures and a flood of new arrivals under new head coach Henk Brugge. The Velsen-Zuid based club, which narrowly avoided relegation on the final day last season, currently sits 13th in the Eredivisie with three points from three matches, according to the latest standings. NH Nieuws outlined the full summer balance sheet this week.

Which key players left Telstar?

The exodus from Telstar was significant. Captain Danny Bakker departed for FC Anyang in South Korea, while talented forward Tyrese Noslin, a World Cup participant, made the move to Barnsley FC in England. Guus Offerhaus also left for FC Utrecht. Furthermore, loanees Sem van Duijn and Jochem Ritmeester van de Kamp returned to AZ and Almere City respectively. Players who frequently rotated between the starting lineup and the bench, such as Devon Koswal, Kay Tejan and Soufiane Hetli, also left the club. Manager Anthony Correia made way for Henk Brugge.

Who did Telstar bring in?

To fill the gaps, Telstar was very active in the transfer market. The club brought in reinforcements from both domestic and foreign leagues. Prince Aning joined from Borussia Dortmund and Marvin Peersman from FC Groningen. From the youth academies of Dutch top clubs, Harrie Kuster (FC Twente), Isaiah Ahmed (sc Heerenveen), Fabiano Rust (Feyenoord) and Emirhan Demircan (on loan from FC Utrecht) were signed. Fofin Turay (FC Groningen), Sem Valk (FC Dordrecht) and Noach Shenkman (AFC) also put pen to paper. On the final day of the window, striker Ar'Jany Martha was loaned from Rotherham United. Gerald Alders was re-loaned from Ajax and Nökkvi Thorisson joined on loan from Sparta.

What does the core of the new team look like?

New signings Rui Mendes and Gabi Cashili have secured starting positions under Brugge immediately. An important retained player is Jeff Hardeveld. Ronald Koeman Jr., who was without a club at the start of pre-season, signed a new contract. The squad is now considerably larger, which should create competition and depth. You can view the full team lineup on our squad page.

What is the objective for this season?

The primary goal for Telstar this season is clear: survival in the Eredivisie. After the close escape last season and the departure of several key figures, it will be a challenging task. The first three league matches yielded one win and two losses, with three goals scored and eight conceded. The team trails leaders AZ Alkmaar by nine points. The coming weeks will show if the new group can gel quickly enough. The next fixture, a home match against Cambuur on 6 September 2026, offers a direct chance to take points from a direct rival, who currently sits 18th. All upcoming matches can be found in the fixtures.