For several seasons, Club NXT has entered the Challenger Pro League, the second level in our country. Relive their season here. A lot of young talents have already had the chance to compete in professional soccer and this season was no different. These were the ten Club NXT debutants of the 2023/24 season.
Age at debut: 19 years 2 months 16 days
Number of minutes this season: 1,285
Number of matches: 22
Goals: 4
Assists: 5
Position: striker
The spry striker came over from Union Sint-Gillis in the summer and immediately made his debut for Club NXT on opening day. In a 3-2 win, he did not have a foot in a goal directly, but he immediately proved what he was capable of.
In subsequent matches, he was almost always at the kickoff, until disaster struck at the end of November and the Belgian Moroccan was out injured. The injury sidelined him for about three months and was a big loss for the Bruges pledges. After all, the striker was already good for three goals and two assists in his first thirteen games for Blauw-Zwart. Especially on match day five against SL16 FC he impressed with two goals (4-1).
And also in his comeback at home against Zulte Waregem, he immediately showed with an assist why he is so important for Club NXT. Three weeks later followed a game against SL16 FC and yes, again, the striker unleashed his devils with a dagger point and an assist. In the end, Salah would clock in at four goals and five assists in the CPL, accounting for about 25% of Club NXT's total goal production this past season.
Age at debut: 20 years 6 months 7 days
Number of minutes this season: 2,476
Number of matches: 29
Goals: 3
Assists: 2
Position: central defender
Another summer transfer who made his debut at the start of the season was Amine Et Taïbi. The 20-year-old central defender came over from Jong Genk and in no time became a fixture in the heart of the Blue-Black defense, as he completed eleven ninety minutes in the first twelve games.
Et Taïbi also quickly assumed a leadership role in the team and had the captain's armband on his arm several times. He also proved his worth athletically. In 29 games, he picked up only two yellow cards, scored three goals and provided two assists. Halfway through the season his strong performance was already rewarded, as in January he was one of the NXT players allowed to go on winter training with the A core.
In the end, the defender would only miss one game this season, making him the Club NXT player with the most minutes last season. In total, he barely missed 223 minutes.
Age at debut: 18 years 11 months 23 days
Number of minutes this season: 1,337
Number of matches: 19
Goals: 6
Assists: 2
Position: striker
The last debutant on game day one may sound most familiar: Victor Barberá. He immediately made his mark against Lierse by scoring. The Spanish striker appeared to have an excellent connection with striker partner Romeo Vermant, but even after his loan to KVC Westerlo, the central striker remained important for his team.
He appeared in 19 of the 30 games in the Challenger Pro League and that was mainly due to his selections for the first team. He was called up to the A-core on several occasions and has already been between the lines four times in the Jupiler Pro League.
Most of his match minutes were admittedly at Club NXT. Barberá scored six goals and the final game day in particular is one to frame. At the King Baudouin Stadium, the Spaniard scored and served once in the 1-2 victory against the RSCA Futures. A performance that leaves you wanting more for the Spanish youth international, who was partly educated at La Masia.
Age at debut: 16 years 6 months 12 days
Number of minutes this season: 415
Number of matches: 14
Goals: /
Assists: 2
Position: striker
One of the absolute youngsters in the CPL was Kaye Furo. The striker made his debut early in the season and received occasional minutes afterwards, giving him a nice backpack of experience in Belgian professional soccer at a young age. The striker born in 2007 adapted well, but at 1m90, he certainly shouldn't be physically inferior in the CPL.
In the last ten games of the season, he was in the team every time and in his first starting place for Club NXT U23 on Feb. 9 against Francs Borains, Furo immediately handed out two fine assists. It earned Blue-Black a 2-2 draw.
Age at debut: 17 years 11 months 17 days
Number of minutes this season: 869
Number of matches: 21
Goals: 2
Assists: 2
Position: striker
The young Norwegian came over in the summer from HamKam in his homeland. There he impressed both with the first team and the Norwegian youth selections. At Club NXT he wanted to take the next step.
With the Bruges promising players he was brought in slowly, mostly in substitutes. Against KV Oostende at the end of November, he made himself heard for the first time with two assists. The following week he started in the starting line-up and rewarded himself with his first goal for Club NXT. And he also showed talent at the Norwegian national team's U19. During the international break, he scored four goals in three games.
In a first season on Belgian soil, he scored two goals gave as many assists for Club NXT. As a supersub, he amassed just under 900 minutes.
Age at debut: 17 years 2 months 26 days
Number of minutes this season: 1,329
Number of matches: 23
Goals: 1
Assists: /
Position: central midfielder
The Spanish midfielder was plucked from the United States in the summer as a promising talent at Orlando City. After an adjustment period, the midfielder took full advantage and became a regular base pawn. After the New Year, he missed only one match due to a suspension; in the other matches he was a base player each time.
Granados also joined the A-team during the winter, where he had his first taste of the real thing in a practice match.
The left winger has a versatile profile, as he can play all positions in midfield. In the end, he made 23 appearances for Club NXT during his debut season, a statistic that leaves one wanting more.
Age at debut: 15 years 4 months 10 days
Number of minutes this season: 388
Number of matches: 13
Goals: /
Assists: /
Position: wing attacker
The youngest debutant ever on behalf of Club NXT and in Belgian professional soccer. Jessi Da Silva was barely 15 years, four months and 10 days old on the day of his debut against Jong Genk. And it would not end with that debut. The young wing attacker would make twelve more appearances, including four as a starting player.
A goal or an assist was not yet in the cards, but the multiple Belgian youth international often showed his qualities with a few flashes. Nearly 400 minutes in professional soccer as a 16-year-old, few imitate him.
Age at debut: 18 years 9 months 20 days
Number of minutes this season: 1,247
Number of matches: 18
Goals: /
Assists: /
Position: central defender
In September, Bi Abdoul Kader Yameogo moved from his home country of Ivory Coast to Club NXT. After a few weeks in which the central defender was brought in quietly, he was a steady force in the defense from November. From the right or central, it mattered little to the athletic defender.
His debut with the first team was not long in coming either, as he was allowed to play five minutes in the home game against Eupen in February.
However, it was at Club NXT that he continued to develop and was in the starting lineup week after week. In the last six games, he completed the ninety minutes five times.
Age at debut: 17 years 6 months 13 days
Number of minutes this season: 360
Number of matches: 4
Number of goals against: 5
Clean sheets: 1
Position: goalkeeper
The only goalkeeper in this list is Axl De Corte. He immediately graced his debut against Francs Borains with a clean sheet. But due to fierce competition with Nick Shinton, among others, it was only during the season finale that the promising goalkeeper still got his full chance.
On match days 27, 28 and 30, De Corte was under the crossbar and made some great saves. Especially against promising Dender, he impressed.
Age at debut: 15 years 10 months 17 days
Number of minutes this season: 133
Number of matches: 7
Goals: /
Assists: /
Position: wing attacker
Another player from 2008. Jesse Bisiwu, like Da Silva, can count himself among the wreath who made his debut in professional soccer as a 15-year-old. He did so late last year against the RSCA Futures.
On match day 29, the wing attacker started in the starting line-up for the first time, and the now 16-year-old Belgian youth international went on to collect six substitute appearances. In total, that already yielded 133 playing minutes in professional soccer.
Leeftijd bij debuut: 23 jaar 6 maanden 28 dagen
Aantal minuten dit seizoen: 450
Aantal wedstrijden: 5
Aantal tegendoelpunten: 8
Clean sheets: /
Positie: doelman
De tweede doelman in dit lijstje heeft lang moeten wachten op zijn debuut. Na zijn overstap van Stoke City deze zomer raakte Joe Bursik zwaar geblesseerd waardoor hij maanden moest revalideren.
Zijn debuut tegen Francs Borains volgde enkele maanden geleden, in februari. Met de Engelsman in doel verloor Club NXT slechts 1 keer. Voorts werd ook twee keer gewonnen en twee keer gelijk gespeeld. Na enkele matchen bij de beloften maakte de Engelse belofte-international opnieuw de overstap naar de A-kern, waar hij deel uitmaakt van de wedstrijdselectie.