Toby Alderweireld is the fifth summer acquisition of Antwerp FC. The club of trainer Mark van Bommel and technical director Marc Overmars has reached an oral agreement with the defender.
The 33-year-old Alderweireld comes over from the Qatari Al Duhail. Once all the formalities have been completed, he will sign a three-year contract with the Belgian club.
“The administrative process will take a few more days,” Antwerp reports. “We want to complete the transition as soon as possible in order to schedule the medical test. After that, we hope to be able to greet him on the training field.”
For Alderweireld, the coming season will be the first time that he will play at the highest level in Belgium. He left for Ajax at a young age and then played successively for Atlético Madrid, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Al Duhail.
Fifth summer acquisition for Antwerp
With 121 international matches for Belgium, Alderweireld is again an appealing reinforcement for Antwerp, where Van Bommel started his third job as head coach this summer. Previously, Orange international Vincent Janssen was also attracted.
In addition to Janssen, Anthony Valencia (Independiente del Valle), Christopher Scott (Bayern Munich), Visar Shala (Olsa Brakel) and Davino Verhulst (Apollon Smyrnis) also came to De Bosuil, as the club’s stadium is called, this summer.
Last season Antwerp, which is the oldest club in Belgium, reached the play-offs for the championship. Antwerp finished third behind Club Brugge and Anderlecht.