FC Twente have confirmed the arrival of Wout Weghorst on a free transfer, with Erik ten Hag expressing strong satisfaction over the move.
The 33-year-old forward signs a two-year contract after leaving Ajax, giving Twente an experienced Dutch international centre-forward.
Ten Hag, now technical director at FC Twente, previously coached Weghorst during a loan spell at Manchester United. That connection helped open the door for the deal, which brings an established Eredivisie striker back to Twente, where expectations around the attack now rise.
During two seasons with Ajax, Weghorst scored 18 goals in 53 Eredivisie matches. Across top-flight Dutch football, including periods at Ajax, AZ Alkmaar and Heracles, Weghorst has 69 goals from 175 league appearances, underlining a long record of consistent scoring in the Netherlands.
The spell at Manchester United in 2022-23 was less productive in league terms. Weghorst did not score in 17 Premier League games during that loan, although there was a goal in the EFL Cup, a competition Manchester United went on to win that season.
FC Twente highlighted the scale of the signing, given the level Weghorst has reached with club and country. “We are immensely proud that Wout Weghorst is going to play for FC Twente, Ten Hag told the club website.
Ten Hag expanded on why the move matters for FC Twente and for Weghorst. “Who wouldn’t be when a Dutch national team striker with more than fifty caps joins your club? This transfer is a golden opportunity for us. He is a consummate professional and the prime example of what you can achieve as a footballer when you are willing to give everything for it. A player with such an impressive track record is normally unattainable for FC Twente. He has always shown tremendous willpower and drive, and he is bursting with ambition. As a local boy, Wout is very eager to achieve something great with FC Twente. We are convinced that he will play a significant role in FC Twente’s future successes. Wout is going to bring something extra to the table.”
The description of Weghorst as a local player underlines the emotional aspect of the transfer. Ten Hag stressed the forward’s ambition and mentality, qualities Twente expect to influence the dressing room as much as performances on the pitch over the next two seasons.
For Twente supporters in the Netherlands and across the Middle East, the signing signals clear intent. The club secure a striker with Dutch national team experience, a strong Eredivisie record and familiarity with Ten Hag’s demands, which could be central to Twente’s future campaigns.