Who is Ruud Nijstad? Chelsea & Bayern Munich track Twente starlet after Barcelona walk away

Insight from Netherlands 

Ruud Nijstad has enjoyed an exceptional start to his career with FC Twente to become one of the most coveted young defenders in Europe. The 18-year-old only made his professional debut this season but he’s acclimated superbly and shown maturity beyond his years. Nijstad has made ten appearances in the Eredivisie at the heart of Twente’s defence and he possesses every characteristic to develop into an elite centre-back.

The teenager’s contract, however, only runs until 2027 and former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag – now technical director at Twente – will be determined to convince Nijstad to pen an extension. It’s understood that the Netherlands U18 international is open to that as he’s prioritising his development and gametime over an immediate move to a European giant. With expert insight from his homeland, we’ve analysed the Nijstad and the growing interest in him.

Ruud Nijstad: Chelsea, Man City & Barcelona interest

It’s understood that Barcelona were seriously interested in striking a deal for Nijstad in January but were unwilling to match Twente’s €10m price tag. There’s also been reports that the youngster was unconvinced of Barca’s plan for him to initially play for their B-side and train with their La Masia, given he’s already playing senior football.

Barcelona’s stance won’t be matched by other clubs with Manchester City and Chelsea amongst the clubs exploring a potential deal. Twente’s record departure is Sem Steijn’s €10m move to Feyenoord in the summer and they want a club to match that fee for Nijstad. Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Brighton and Brentford have all scoured Nijstad, while Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have also been linked.

Ruud Nijstad: The view from the Netherlands

Crucially, Nijstad is a left-footed centre-back which is highly desirable for major European clubs. The Twente starlet is incredibly comfortable in possession with an impressive positional understanding and Owen van Leeuwen, Eredivisie expert at Transfermarkt, has provided insight from the Netherlands.

“Nijstad is considered one of FC Twente’s greatest ever talents,” said Van Leeuwen. “He’s the definition of a modern, technically skilled defender and he’s known within the club for his composure and game intelligence. His statistics show that he handles the ball effectively, possesses high-quality passing accuracy, distinguishing him as a footballer with a solid foundation and growth potential. There’s still room for development, however, as he can make further progress in physical duels and by taking initiative in decisive situations, which will make him a more complete player.”