Anderlecht opts for domestic summer camp as Vítor Bruno builds squad

RSC Anderlecht will spend its summer preparation inside Belgium, moving to the Proximus Basecamp in Tubeke from Tuesday to Saturday under new head coach Vítor Bruno, as the club gears up for its first official match on 23 July against Swedish Hammarby in the Europa League second qualifying round.

After a season without trophies, Anderlecht enters a crucial summer with Vítor Bruno at the helm, tasked with shaping a squad that will face European competition soon. The Belgian giants aim to translate his ideas into results as the new campaign approaches.

The club chose to remain on home soil rather than travel abroad, selecting the Proximus Basecamp in Tubeke as its training base. Players will train on the Belgian national team’s (Rode Duivels) pitches and stay in the on‑site hotel, providing a quiet environment for the coach to implement his plans.

A friendly against French second‑division side US Boulogne is scheduled for Friday in Tubeke, marking the first test before the camp officially begins. The camp will conclude with a practice match against Dutch NEC, giving the squad additional match practice.

The move to Tubeke is prompted by renovations at Anderlecht’s primary Neerpede training ground, forcing the team to use the national training centre temporarily. This logistical shift ensures uninterrupted preparation despite the construction work.

With only a short window before the season starts, Anderlecht’s first competitive fixture arrives on 23 July, when they meet Swedish Hammarby in the Europa League second qualifying round. The limited preparation time heightens the importance of the summer camp’s training sessions.

Transfer activity is already underway: midfielder Devon De Corte has confirmed his departure for Dutch side FC Den Bosch, opening a spot in the midfield. At the same time, Swedish centre‑back Eric Smith, currently of St. Pauli and a former KAA Gent player, is being linked as a potential defensive reinforcement.

These movements suggest the summer camp will serve both physical conditioning and squad finalisation, as Vítor Bruno may need to work with a provisional core before any new arrivals are integrated. The coming weeks will decide which players remain, who exits, and which signings can be completed ahead of the European kickoff.