Transfers
From World Cup disappointment to Twente revival: Weghorst's new drive
Thirty‑three‑year‑old Dutch international Wout Weghorst has returned to FC Twente in the Twente region after a week in Ibiza, following the Netherlands' World Cup (WK) elimination against Morocco (Marokko). The move comes as many Oranje‑internationals continue their summer holidays, but the striker is already training hard.
"Terug op oale groond" – a popular saying in the Twente area when someone returns to familiar ground – now describes Weghorst’s homecoming. The phrase highlights the emotional link between the player and the region.
The tall striker from the FC Twente‑idolate village of Borne has swapped Ajax for "his" FC Twente. His transfer underscores a personal connection to the club he grew up supporting.
While many Dutch internationals still enjoy their summer break, the former Wolfsburg and Manchester United forward spent a week on Ibiza to reset his body and mind after the disappointing World Cup (WK) elimination against Morocco.
"I am happy if Monday comes and the tournament is over. Occasionally it stays on, but I don’t watch it for long. I can still look at it badly," said the striker, expressing his relief at the competition’s end.
Now back at FC Twente, Weghorst has taken up penning the next chapter of his own boys' book. He said, "I have always said that after my career I want to write a book about my career. The book is not finished, but if I could write the last chapter now, it would be this way."
In the forthcoming chapter he plans to describe FC Twente as a red thread through his life, recalling trips as a child to De Oude Markt in Enschede to celebrate a cup win and a league title, and visits with his brothers to the stadium tribune.
His earlier comments after moving to Ajax – where he mentioned sleeping in an Ajax pyjama while Twente showed interest – sparked mixed reactions. Weghorst dismissed the media‑fuelled division, noting, "I have been here a week and have only noticed positivity."
Looking ahead, the forward sees huge potential at Twente and hopes to win a prize. "That would be super cool, especially as a supporter I know what it means in the region," he said, linking personal ambition with regional pride.
He added, "You must also be normal, but be ambitious and set goals. If you never aim for the highest, you will never achieve it," echoing the local credo of doing things normally while reaching for greatness.
Ultimately, Weghorst wants to do what he does best – score goals and deliver a trophy to the club, turning his football story into a fitting final chapter of his book.