Willem II just pulled the trigger on a loan deal for goalkeeper Maxime Delanghe from Cercle Brugge, and honestly, the move screams desperation for a side already in rough shape. This isn’t just a simple transfer, it’s a direct reaction to their starting keeper, Thomas Didillon-Hödl, suffering a long-term injury. What a blow! Cercle Brugge made it clear there’s no purchase agreement tacked on, so it feels like a temporary bandage, not a long-term fix.
Injury Chaos Forces a Risky Hand
With Didillon-Hödl sidelined, Willem II had to act fast. Karst de Leeuw has been holding down the fort for their last two games, but it looks like he is about to face some serious competition for that number one spot from Delanghe. This early in the Eredivisie season, a stable defense is everything, and they are definitely shaking things up.
Delanghe’s Return, But What Can He Bring?
Delanghe is no stranger to Dutch football, having last played here in 2022 when he left PSV for Lierse. He was with Jong PSV but never broke into the senior squad, and after 18 games for Lierse, he moved to Cercle Brugge on a free in summer 2023. He even became their first-choice keeper in the 2024/2025 season, playing 32 games! But last season, he only played 18 games before being dropped in favor of Warleson. Warleson is gone now, and Cercle Brugge brought in Gaëtan Coucke as their new main guy, which tells you all you need to know about Delanghe’s standing there.
Willem II has picked up just one point from their opening three Eredivisie games, conceding a whopping 10 goals. That is not pretty. So, can Delanghe be the guy to stop the bleeding? Or is this a sign of more tough times ahead for a team already struggling to keep the ball out of their net? They need answers, and they need them now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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