Official: Hoedt now leads Anderlecht defense

TRANSFERS RSC Anderlecht have found a replacement for Matt Miazga, the Dutchman Wesley Hoedt. 27-year-old Hoedt comes over from Southampton and signs a contract until 2025. "The choice for Anderlecht is in the first place a sporting choice", it sounds in a first reaction.


A year ago, after a strong season at Antwerp, there were already reports about Anderlecht's interest. "The contacts between RSC Anderlecht and myself have been going on for more than a year," the defender now admits. "There was an immediate click with Peter and Vincent and we had to wait for the right moment."

So the right time is now. Southampton loaned Hoedt to Lazio Roma last season, but in the Serie A he did not get further than ten places in the starting eleven and seven (mostly short) substitutions. Hoedt's contract with Southampton ran until mid-2022, but a return to the Premier League was out of the question.

"Leadership and experience"

"The choice for Anderlecht is primarily a sporting choice for me. I want to help making this project a success, to go for the highest again. It is up to myself and Lior to give the dressing room the necessary maturity. And to help the many young players fully develop," Hoedt says about his transfer.

Sports director Peter Verbeke is also excited with this third summer transfer. "With Hoedt, we add leadership and experience to the team. This balance is necessary to allow our many young players to develop optimally and to strive for results. Wesley is also good at the ball and he plays with guts and confidence, which is very good. He matches the football that this club wants to bring."