Auckland FC midfielder leaves A League champions to return to Belgian football | OneFootball

Former Antwerp and Beveren midfielder Louis Verstraete is back in Belgian football. The 27-year-old has spent the last two seasons playing in New Zealand for Auckland FC, who play in the A-League with Australian sides. This past season Verstraete helped Auckland FC win the A League for the first time in their history. Verstraete returns to Belgian football with Patro Eisden in the second tier, a side that is keen to win promotion to the Pro League and has been for some time now.

Verstraete leaves Auckland FC having played 55 games for the side. During the title winning season of 2025/2026 he provided Auckland FC with two goals and three assists. Prior to his time in New Zealand, the midfielder had played for Antwerp, Oostende, Gent and Beveren.  During his youth, Verstraete was also capped a handful of times by the Belgian national teams at U17, U19 and U21 level.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson