SC Heerenveen has reached an agreement to sign defender Mees Hilgers from FC Twente. The 25-year-old Indonesia international will sign a contract until the summer of 2029 with only the medical examination left to complete the move.
The club currently sits 11th in the Eredivisie with five points from four games and is seeking defensive reinforcements, having conceded six goals already this season. The next home fixture against league leaders AZ Alkmaar on September 6th is fast approaching. Hilgers' arrival is intended to solidify the backline.
Mees Hilgers had been in a difficult situation at FC Twente for some time. A dispute over a contract extension led to the club banishing him from the training ground for a long period. A planned move to France collapsed as time ran out. The defender then suffered a serious injury, a cruciate ligament rupture, which cast doubt on his future. Hilgers initially believed his contract expired last summer and that he would become a free agent. Due to an administrative issue, his expiring deal was automatically extended by one year. Now that he has completed his rehabilitation from the injury and resumed training, Heerenveen has offered him a way out.
Heerenveen is looking for more security and depth in defence. The squad can benefit from an experienced Eredivisie defender, especially with the upcoming matches in mind. The stats show the need: after four matchdays, Heerenveen has a negative goal difference (-1) and trails leaders AZ by seven points. The team captain and the rest of the defensive unit can be viewed on our squad page. Hilgers' arrival gives coach Kees van Wonderen more options, both centrally and potentially in the full-back positions. His physical presence and experience in the Dutch league are immediate positives for a team seeking stability.
The transfer needs to be finalized quickly so Hilgers becomes available for selection. The schedule is challenging, with the top match against AZ up next on the program. A series of fixtures that will further shape the season will follow. Fans can track the full schedule via our fixtures page. With this reinforcement, Heerenveen hopes to improve its defensive organization and pick up more points in the coming weeks. The club is now in a mid-table position in the standings, but the ambition is to finish higher. Mees Hilgers' contract runs until mid-2029, indicating a long-term vision from the club.
