The NEC Chronicle
Market10 Aug 2026
NEC say no — this time
The offer from Heerenveen for Gonzalo Crettaz was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Transfer targets10 Aug 2026
Door shut on Dylan Vente
NEC asked and Heerenveen said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.
Transfer targets10 Aug 2026
An offer of $1.9M for Odysseus Velanas
NEC have gone to Zwolle with a bid, and the supporters have gone to the internet with an opinion about it. Whether either changes anything is up to the selling club.
Squad10 Aug 2026
Tjaronn Chery signs a new deal
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Tjaronn Chery commits to NEC for another 2 years.
Squad10 Aug 2026
Gonzalo Crettaz in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at NEC this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Boardroom10 Aug 2026
Graduation day at NEC
5 boys move up, and somewhere in the building the people who coached them at twelve are quietly having the best morning of their working year. Nothing about this shows up in a result and it is why the academy exists.
Market10 Aug 2026
NEC promote Cody Brobbey from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Cody Brobbey has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market10 Aug 2026
NEC promote Rick Gakpo from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Rick Gakpo has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market10 Aug 2026
NEC promote Guus Lang from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Guus Lang has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
In brief
- Squad NEC are still strangers to each other
- The dugout Tjaronn Chery asks for a word with the manager
- Squad Noé Lebreton falls out with a teammate over standards