Vertonghen signs new Anderlecht deal

Belgian centre-back Jan Vertonghen, 37, will play one more season for Anderlecht Brussels after retiring from his national team with an all-time record 157 appearances for the Red Devils. The club announced the extension, which was expected, by buying an advertising page at the end of the sports section of the Flemish daily ‘Het Laatste Nieuws’ accompanied by a large photo of the player and the caption: "Our story is not over yet, Jan," next to the Anderlecht logo.

"I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Anderlecht. I feel at home and I also feel the appreciation of the fans and the people inside the club (...). That convinced me to stay for another year," Vertonghen, who is expected to return to training with the club this week, told another newspaper page.

At the end of the European Championship, in which Belgium were knocked out by France in the last 16 with a Vertonghen own goal, the defender had announced that he was leaving the Red Devils. "Thank you for all the memories. I have lived my dream," said the former Ajax, Tottenham and Benfica centre-back, accompanying his message on Instagram with a photo of his national team debut in 2007 and another of his last appearance at Euro 2024.

The former Belgium international has been left alone in the centre of Anderlecht's defence following the transfer of Belgian defender Zeno de Bast to Sporting Lisbon.

 

July 17, 2024