“A £4.2m homecoming”

Sparta Rotterdam have landed a familiar face for £4.2m, bringing Sjoerd Van Dieken back from NAC Breda as the Eredivisie club add a homecoming flourish to their summer business. The 29-year-old completed the move on 14 August.

Van Dieken spent the spell from 2057/58 to 2063/64 at NAC, making 233 appearances and scoring 16 goals. Now he returns to Sparta with plenty of familiar colours in his past—and a fresh chapter to dress up. Bigger Mwamba’s £0.9m arrival from PSV Eindhoven came a day later, giving Sparta another new name to unveil.