Pepijn van de Merbel

Pepijn van de Merbel spent six years working his way up through NAC Breda's academy before he was given his professional debut in December 2022, having joined the Eerste Divisie club from FC Den Bosch's youth ranks in 2018. His chance to establish himself came gradually rather than all at once: two league appearances in the 2022/23 season grew to five the following year, and by 2023/24 he had become NAC Breda's man for the biggest occasion.

It was in the promotion play-offs that van de Merbel made his name. Across six matches in that stretch he kept clean sheets in the semi-final ties against Roda JC Kerkrade and FC Emmen, part of a run that carried NAC Breda up into the Eredivisie. In total he kept three clean sheets in 14 appearances for the club across the season, and his form between the posts during the run-in earned him recognition as the play-offs' outstanding find.

That promotion did not translate into a place in the Eredivisie squad for van de Merbel himself. Rather than stay on at NAC Breda for the club's return to the top flight, he moved on a free transfer back to FC Den Bosch, the club where he had come through as a boy, signing a two-year deal with the option of a third season.

Right-footed and 186cm, van de Merbel has yet to add senior international recognition to his career, with his development so far built almost entirely on his years in Breda.