Who is leaving and why?

De Graafschap sees one of its stand‑out players, midfielder Joris van den Berg, move to German 2. Bundesliga side Darmstadt. The transfer was announced on July 9 2026. Van den Berg, 23, said he is "equally excited" about the new challenge, while the club stressed his key role in recent successes.

How does De Graafschap react?

Club director Marco van der Laan said during the press conference that "Joris has given us a lot, but we respect his ambition. We stay focused on the title race and trust the rest of the squad." Coach John van den Heuvel added that the team now needs to work even tighter together to close the gap on ADO Den Haag.

What does this mean for the title race?

Without Van den Berg, De Graafschap must reshuffle their attack. The team currently sits 4th in the Eerste Divisie with 63 points, 18 wins, 9 draws and 11 losses from 38 games. They have scored 74 goals and conceded 58, a +16 goal difference. The gap to leaders ADO Den Haag is 26 points. The recent 7‑2 defeat to Heerenveen on July 3 2026 shows defensive frailties.

What’s next on the schedule?

The next fixture is on July 17 2026, at home against Telstar. The club hopes to improve on their recent form of 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss (LWWDW) with a tweaked lineup. Van den Berg’s departure could motivate younger players to step up.

How does the future look?

Even after losing a key player, the focus stays on promotion. The manager has already discussed possible replacements from the academy and a potential winter signing. Fans remain hopeful, as the current standing (4th, 63 pts) still offers a realistic shot at the play‑offs.

De Graafschap continues to push for a play‑off spot while preparing for the home match against Telstar on July 17 2026.