TRANSFERS Will Thorgan Hazard (32) still be playing for Anderlecht next season? During a signing session in the centre of Brussels, it became clear once again that the winger still enjoys enormous popularity. He himself says he would like to stay at Lotto Park. Money does not seem to be decisive, although a two-year contract could convince him.
The Anderlecht pop-up store is certainly attracting plenty of visitors, especially during the autograph session. Hazard was signing yesterday and, for many fans, he remains Anderlecht's most influential player. Het Nieuwsblad collected several reactions, which we quote briefly:
“Thorgan remains a decisive player.”
“If it were up to me, he could stay here for years.”
Hazard enjoys being in Brussels, close to his family, and he was in a very good mood during the signing session. However, his contract expires in June 2026, which means he may start talking to other clubs from 1 January onwards. Hazard now faces an important choice: stay in Belgium with his family, or consider one more lucrative contract abroad. His preference seems to lean towards the first option, although he would have to accept a pay cut. Hazard works harder now than he used to in the Bundesliga and feels comfortable in Besnik Hasi's system, which gives him more freedom because other players cover the wide areas. He is, in short, satisfied. A longer extension seems more important to him than a large salary. Olivier Renard already considers a renewal negotiable.
Hazard is currently earning roughly €1.8 million gross per year, with bonuses of about a quarter of a million for winning the league or the Golden Boot. That would have to decrease significantly. A contract with strongly performance-based bonuses could be a solution, similar to Jan Vertonghen's deal last season. Talks about a new contract are not yet concrete, but it seems only a matter of time before both parties sit down together. An agent is not needed: officially Hazard is represented by his father Thierry, but he considers himself experienced enough to conduct the negotiations himself. He wants to play for another two to three years and is possibly considering a future as a sporting director afterwards.
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