Contract clause keeps Hatenboer away from RSCA Futures
TUESDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2025, 14:16 - lajoya
1B - TRANSFERS When Anderlecht hosts AA Gent tonight, Cedric Hatenboer (20) will once again be missing from the match sheet. This is surprising, as the Dutchman was acquired from Excelsior Rotterdam last summer for €2.1 million. He is not even playing for RSCA Futures, where young or less-used players can gain experience in 1B. The reason? A specific clause in his contract.
Anderlecht uses the Futures as a springboard for players who are not yet ready for the first team. Recently, 19-year-old Yasin Özcan, on loan from Aston Villa, played against FC Liège, despite an €8 million purchase option. Hatenboer also played two games in 1B at the start of the season, but he was not even in the squad against Eupen, Beerschot, and Liège.
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Continue reading This appears to be more than just a sporting decision. According to an insider, his contract states that the midfielder is not obliged to play for the Futures. Specifically, it was stipulated that he was signed for the first team. He can only play for the reserve team in two cases: when he returns from injury or if both the player and the club agree that extra minutes there are beneficial.
Different visions The contract therefore makes it clear that matches in the Futures are not automatic. This is a sticking point: the club sees 1B as an excellent training ground, while Hatenboer's camp is convinced that only playing time at the highest level will help his development. A loan move was still an option last summer, but it did not happen.
The question now is how to proceed. Without minutes, the midfielder risks being out of match rhythm for months. Neither Anderlecht nor Hatenboer's entourage wants to comment publicly on the contractual agreements. However, a meeting is scheduled this week to discuss the situation.
