Anderlecht's De Cat future hinges on talks in weeks ahead

Nathan De Cat’s future at RSC Anderlecht remains unresolved as his contract nears expiry this summer. The 17-year-old midfielder emerged as a revelation last season, becoming a first-name on the team sheet and a cornerstone of the squad’s midfield. His contract runs until this summer with no extension agreed, leaving the club’s hierarchy scrambling to secure a longer deal. The urgency is acute: Anderlecht risk losing their prized asset if negotiations drag on. Club chairman Michael Verschueren admitted the situation is far from straightforward. “Nathan De Cat is entering his final contract year,” he told Het . “Thanks to a decade of lobbying with the ECF, young players can now sign five-year deals.” Verschueren added: “If he had done that, we would have more flexibility now. But that’s not the case.” He acknowledged the club cannot afford to delay, yet stressed talks are ongoing without revealing specifics.

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“Negotiations to extend his contract are still underway,” Verschueren said. “But I won’t jump ahead of events regarding my midfielder.” Head coach Vitor Bruno echoed the sentiment, insisting the club wants to keep De Cat. “We haven’t discussed a possible transfer yet,” he said. “We obviously want to keep him, we’re pushing for that, and we’re counting on him.” Bruno framed De Cat as a key building block for Anderlecht’s future, warning that starting next season without a deal would be risky. “He’s seen as one of the most important pillars for what’s ahead,” the coach added.

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The club is racing against time to avoid the scenario of De Cat beginning a season on a expiring contract. The coming weeks are now pivotal in securing a long-term agreement. RSC Anderlecht’s next match, against New Zealand, kicks off at 05:00 on 27 June.