YOUTH With the continued progression of several youth players to Anderlecht's first team, the club's youth academy has once again proven to be a significant source of talent. Neerpede not only supplies players to top Belgian clubs, but also to teams across Europe. This article highlights some of these talents who have made their mark outside of Belgium.
In Portugal, Zeno Debast impressed at Sporting Lisbon after his transfer of over €15 million. The defender, who was trained at Neerpede, scored twice and provided four assists in 48 matches. In Portugal, he is deployed as a midfielder.
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Continue reading Lucas Stassin moved to St-Etienne for €10 million after having previously left Anderlecht. The striker scored 12 goals and provided 5 assists in 28 matches but couldn't prevent relegation.
Bilal El Khannouss, who also trained at Neerpede for six years, transferred from Genk to Leicester last year for over €22 million. Although he couldn't prevent his team from relegation, he did contribute with 3 goals and 6 assists in 37 matches. Wout Faes also had an inconsistent season at Leicester. He also regularly faces criticism in the national team, but for now he remains a starter.
The Dutch league remains a popular destination for Belgian talent. Mika Godts, who moved from Neerpede to Genk in 2020, made his breakthrough at Ajax with 8 goals and 7 assists in 47 matches.
Ismael Saibari, from the same generation, was crucial for PSV with 15 goals and 14 assists. He played for the Purple & White youth team for two years.
In England, Youri Tielemans excelled at Aston Villa, while Jeremy Doku made his mark at Manchester City with 8 goals and 9 assists. Orel Mangala, after a long spell with the Anderlecht youth team, played a role in Everton's survival.
In Italy, RomeluLukakuwas a key figure for Napoli, with 14 goals and 11 assists, while Alexis Saelemaekers and Mile Svilar also contributed to AS Roma's success.
In Spain, Dodi Lukebakiohad a successful loan at Sevilla, scoring 11 goals and providing 2 assists.
With a total of 35 players who have played 1,173 matches and produced 153 goals and 143 assists, Neerpede remains an important breeding ground for talent. Despite the recent relegation of Club Brugge and Racing Genk, the youth academy remains invaluable to the club. With several top training centers in Europe, it is a renowned training center.
