SC Heerenveen have strengthened their squad with two new players. The club has signed Iraqi international Marko Farji and is close to completing a deal for defender Mees Hilgers from FC Twente.
Marko Farji joins from Italian side Venezia, signing a four-year contract in Friesland. The 22-year-old left winger, who played for Iraq at the World Cup last summer, is a Norwegian-raised forward. According to technical manager Johan Hansma, the player was financially out of reach when Heerenveen tried to sign him earlier during his time in Norway.
Farji initiated contact with the club himself. "He said that if Heerenveen was still interested, he really wanted to come here," Hansma said. The player saw limited minutes at Venezia but stresses he learned a lot there. Heerenveen currently sit 11th in the Eredivisie with five points from four matches and a goal difference of minus one.
Mees Hilgers is set to leave FC Twente for a move to Heerenveen. All parties have agreed on a transfer for the Indonesian international. The 25-year-old defender would sign a contract until mid-2029. Hilgers became embroiled in a dispute with Twente's board over a contract extension and was sidelined from the squad for a long period.
A planned move to France fell through and he later suffered a serious injury. Although his contract was automatically extended by one year, he had no future left in Enschede. Hilgers is recovering from a cruciate ligament injury and has resumed training. The medical examination is the final hurdle for the move. Heerenveen want him as reinforcement for a defence that has conceded six goals so far this season.
With the arrivals of Farji and Hilgers, Heerenveen are clearly looking to expand and rejuvenate their squad. Farji adds pace and directness on the wing, while Hilgers is expected to bring experience and stability to the back line. The club trails leaders AZ by seven points in the league and is seeking ways to improve results.
The team has scored five times in the league so far. Hilgers' arrival is particularly important given the current position in the standings, where any reinforcement is welcome. The next test is the home fixture against AZ Alkmaar on 6 September 2026.
