N.E.C. Nijmegen players Basar Önal and Sami Ouaissa are attracting interest from top clubs. According to De Telegraaf, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid are interested in Önal, while PSV and clubs from France, Germany and Italy have their eyes on Ouaissa. The 21-year-old attackers have had an impressive season with the Nijmegen side, who are having a strong campaign in the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup.
Who are Basar Önal and Sami Ouaissa?
Basar Önal, 21, joined N.E.C. in 2024 from De Graafschap. In 83 games for his former club, he scored 19 goals and provided 11 assists. This season, he has already scored 8 goals and 7 assists in 27 games for N.E.C. Sami Ouaissa, also 21, started his career at Roda and scored 7 goals in 36 games in his first Eredivisie season. This year, he has scored 8 goals and provided 2 assists.
What does this mean for N.E.C. Nijmegen?
The interest from top clubs is a confirmation of N.E.C. Nijmegen's success. The club is trying to extend Ouaissa's contract to maximize the return on any potential sale. For the Nijmegen side, it is a challenge to keep their talents, but also an opportunity to benefit financially from their development.
What comes next?
N.E.C. Nijmegen will have to decide in the coming months whether to sell or keep their talents. With interest from clubs like Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid and PSV, it is likely that there will be concrete talks in the summer. For the players themselves, it is a chance to take a step up in their careers.
