Ramiz Zerrouki is temporarily leaving Feyenoord. The midfielder is not waiting for a new battle for a place in Rotterdam and returns to FC Twente on loan.
The 27-year-old Zerrouki transferred from FC Twente to Feyenoord two years ago for over 7 million euros, but did not make an indelible impression in De Kuip. Since his arrival, he has commuted between the bench and the starting line-up.
Feyenoord signed Eredivisie top scorer Sem Steijn and Luciano Valente this summer, which would reduce Zerrouki’s chances of playing time. The Rotterdam team also has midfielders Quinten Timber, Jakub Moder, In-beom Hwang and Oussama Targhalline under contract.
Partly because of this, Zerrouki was a substitute in the recent practice matches for trainer Robin van Persie’s team. An own goal in Saturday’s practice match against OGC Nice is for the time being one of the Algerian’s last achievements for Feyenoord. He played 65 games for the club.
“I left here two years ago, so you don’t expect to be back now,” says Zerrouki on the FC Twente website. “Sometimes things go that way. FC Twente was still specifically looking for a player like me.”
Zerrouki experienced breakthrough at Twente
With FC Twente, Zerrouki chooses the club where he experienced his major breakthrough in the Eredivisie. The Amsterdam native already played 108 times for the tukkers from 2019 to 2023. FC Twente is not playing European football this season, after losing the play-off final against AZ.
“If you get signals that Ramiz is available, you don’t hesitate,” says technical director Jan Streuer of FC Twente. “He ensures a good balance in the team and his type of play gives us more options. We know very well what Ramiz can do and we are convinced that he will show it here again. This is a win-win situation for him and for us.”
With Zerrouki, Feyenoord is already waving goodbye to the fifteenth player in the summer transfer period. After finishing third in the Eredivisie last season, Van Persie’s selection is undergoing a metamorphosis. For FC Twente, Zerrouki is the sixth reinforcement. Last week the club also brought Robin Pröpper back.