Belgian Pro League 2026/2027 Preview: Antwerp | OneFootball

Antwerp are in a period of transition. The side only recently announced that Marvin Comper will be their head coach, just a few days before the seasons starts. Many key players have left in the summer and now the Antwerp squad looks remarkably young and light in a few areas. There is still plenty of work to be done by Marc Overmars to get Antwerp back to being a side capable of challenging for the title or qualifying for European football.

Transfers in: Koki Ando (Mito Hollyhock), Luis Narh (Diamond SSC), Maxime Busi (Reims), Michael Frey (Grasshopper), Ibrahim Salah (Basel), Daniel Mejia )NK Kustosija), Snaydar Porozo (Aucas)

Transfer Out: Vincent Janssen (Portland), Gyrano Kerk (free), Dennis Praet KV Mechelen), Kiki Kouyate (Al Khaleej), Zeno Van Den Bosch (Union Berlin), Bjorn Engels (free), Glenn Bijl (free)

Key player: Michael Frey

He has only scored 12 goals since leaving the club for QPR, but Frey returns to Antwerp as their only striker with any experience. The 32-year-old is 12 years older than Gerard Vandeplas, the other main striking option at the club. During his first spell with Antwerp the Swiss forward scored 33 goals in 69 games. A return to that sort of form could really help this young Antwerp side out. It is ironic that, he left because he was replaced by Janssen, and now that the former Spurs man left, Frey immediately returns.

Young player to watch: Youssef Hamdaoui

There are plenty of young players to watch at Antwerp this season, almost the entire team is eligible for this category. Moroccan teenager Hamdaoui showed signs of being a supremely talented technical midfielder last season. More game time this season would really aid his development. He is, for me at least, one of the players I am keen to see a lot more of this coming season.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson