Rits seeks new club: “His qualities are beyond dispute”
FRIDAY, 6 MARCH 2026, 09:07 - lajoya
OTHER Mats Rits is training with Anderlecht's first team again, but his future almost certainly lies elsewhere. He has barely played this season: 162 minutes with the reserves.
Two years ago, he was still a regular in the team that almost won the league. After an influx of new midfielders, he ended up in the B team in September, despite his role in the players' council. That was a hard blow.
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Continue reading In January, he was allowed to leave on a free transfer and tried to get himself noticed by playing a few matches for the reserves, but a transfer failed to materialize. “The winter transfer window is difficult, budgets are limited,” says his manager Gunter Thiebaut.
With the departure of sporting director Olivier Renard, Rits once again had a chance to join the first team under interim coach Jérémy Taravel, although it seems unlikely that he will get any playing time.
His contract expires at the end of this season. With almost 400 first division matches, 41 European matches, and three national titles, he has an impressive track record. Yet many clubs are put off by his age. “That's strange,” says Thiebaut. “You can't just work with young players. Experience and leadership are also important. Mats has always remained professional.”
Rits is also open to an adventure abroad. The coming months will reveal which club still values his experience.
