Race for Belgian jewel: will BVB snap up Anderlecht's De Cat? | OneFootball

Nathan De Cat is in hot demand. The 17-year-old midfield gem from RSC Anderlecht is high on the list of countless top clubs. Borussia Dortmund has also been linked with the young star.

Despite his young age, De Cat has already made 53 appearances for the Belgian traditional club’s senior team. He has scored four goals and provided five assists. After his first tentative steps in the 2024/24 season, he made his breakthrough in the campaign that has just ended.

De Cat has also already made an appearance for the national team. In March 2026, he played his first 20 minutes for Belgium in the 5-2 clash against the USA. However, it was not enough to earn a place in the World Cup squad.

As things stand, the midfielder will wear Anderlecht’s shirt again next season. However, despite being under contract until 2027, there is a strong chance that De Cat will leave the club. This year is the last opportunity for the Purple and Whites to bring in an appropriate transfer fee for their exceptional talent. Given his estimated market value of 27 million euros (according to transfermarkt.de), the amount is unlikely to be small.

Tip from star striker Lukaku

According to information from Spox, numerous European heavyweights are pursuing De Cat. From England, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Tottenham and Brighton are all said to be interested. But Real Madrid, AC Milan and Sporting Lisbon are also closely monitoring the 17-year-old’s performances. From the Bundesliga, in addition to BVB, Bayern Munich, VfB Stuttgart, RB Leipzig and TSG Hoffenheim are also after the Belgian “Young Talent of the Year 2025.”

Photo: IMAGO

“It’s sometimes strange how quickly everything happens,” De Cat says, somewhat surprised by his own rapid development. He is simply trying to block out thoughts about it.

Belgium’s powerhouse striker Romelu Lukaku (33), currently in action at the World Cup, has a clear opinion about his compatriot’s future. “Personally, I would advise De Cat to stay at Anderlecht for another year,” says the veteran, who has been scoring goals in Naples since 2024. “First, dominate the Belgian league. I know what it’s like to move to Chelsea as an 18-year-old. They pay a lot, but then you walk into that dressing room and are told to sit in a corner. Or play with the youth team.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.