Dirk Proper to leave NEC after five-year spell

Dirk Proper will leave NEC this summer after five years at the club.

The 24-year-old midfielder, a product of NEC’s academy, made only 15 appearances this season, starting just three. He featured in 12 Eredivisie matches, all as a substitute, and played three cup games.

NEC manager Rogier Meijer used Proper sparingly, often favoring alternatives in midfield. The player’s contract expires at the end of June, with no new deal agreed.

Proper joined NEC in 2019 and has made 98 appearances across all competitions. His departure follows a pattern of limited minutes under Meijer, who has reshaped the squad since taking charge in 2022.

The midfielder is expected to pursue opportunities elsewhere this summer. Free agency looms if no club secures his signature before June 30.