Jari Vlak, CD Castellón’s new midfielder, assessed by Dick Schreuder and Johan Plat | OneFootball

CD Castellón have completed the signing of Jari Vlak from ADO Den Haag, the 1.91-metre midfielder joining on a three-year deal to June 2029.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the transfer is worth 500,000 euros with up to 100,000 in bonuses tied to appearances and a possible promotion to Primera.

NEC Nijmegen coach Dick Schreuder views Vlak as a box-to-box midfielder with the level for Spain’s second tier. He highlights Vlak’s leadership, noting he captained ADO in last season’s promotion, and says he can shoot with both feet.

Vlak scored 10 goals and provided four assists in 2024/25, then 11 goals and seven assists in 2025/26, when he won promotion and was named MVP of the division.

Johan Plat, set to lead SC Cambuur in the Eredivisie, worked with Vlak at Volendam and comes from the same town. He told Vlak Castellón is a fantastic club and that he should go if the chance arose, and adds the midfielder is disciplined, hardworking and will help a lot.

Born in Volendam in 1998, Vlak turns 28 in August. He played for Volendam from 2018 to 2021, Emmen from 2021 to 2024, then the last two and a half seasons at ADO Den Haag, where he had a year left on his contract.

Comfortable as a pivot or an interior role in midfield, he strengthens a unit that lost Beñat Gerenabarrena, who returned to Athletic Club after his loan ended.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo