Deportivo closes first signing after promotion to First Division

The Deportivo de La Coruña has already begun to move decisively after securing its return to La Liga. The blue and white club knows that moving up a division requires reinforcing the squad with criteria, balance, and profiles capable of growing without skyrocketing the budget.

The first player to land at Riazor will be Teun Gijselhart, a 21-year-old Dutch midfielder belonging to De Graafschap. The deal is closed for a figure close to one million euros, and the player will travel to Spain to undergo a medical examination before signing his new contract.

Dépor accelerates after promotion

The promotion has completely changed the sporting reality of Deportivo. After years of suffering away from the elite, the Coruña club returns to La Liga with enormous enthusiasm but also with the obligation to build a squad ready to compete from day one.

The sports management knows that it is not enough to maintain the team that achieved the goal. La Liga will demand more pace, more physicality, more talent, and more squad depth. That's why Riazor is already working on several signings, with the idea of closing between eight and ten transfers that will elevate the team's level without breaking the economic balance.

Gijselhart emerges as the first piece of this new project. His arrival responds to a clear commitment to youth, growth margin, and a key position: the midfield. Deportivo needed to strengthen the core with a specific player capable of providing order and coverage in an area where the step up in category can be especially noticeable.

The club has acted swiftly. The player was on the radar of Dutch teams, especially Twente, but the opportunity to play in La Liga with Deportivo was crucial in tipping the operation.

Gijselhart, a midfielder with potential

Teun Gijselhart doesn't arrive as a headline-making signing, but rather as a very interesting bet. At 21, he has been one of the most used players at De Graafschap in the Dutch second tier, amassing 36 league starts and over 3,000 minutes during the season.

His offensive stats are not outstanding, with two assists and no goals, but his value is not solely in the final pass. He is a midfielder of hard work, balance, and good reading, a player accustomed to supporting the team from the base and maintaining the flow of play.

The Dutchman also has experience in the youth categories of his national team, having gone through the U-15 and U-17 sides. This formative journey reinforces the idea that Deportivo is adding a player with a good technical base and room to adapt to a higher competitive level.

His contract with De Graafschap was set to run until 2028, so Dépor had to negotiate a deal that will be around one million euros. Additionally, the Dutch club will retain a percentage of any future sale, a common practice when dealing with young players with potential for appreciation.

A future bet for Riazor

The signing of Gijselhart reflects the type of market Deportivo aims to tap into. The club cannot afford major expenditures but can seek emerging profiles with potential for growth within an ambitious project.

For the player, the leap is significant. He will move from the Eerste Divisie to La Liga, from competing at De Graafschap to doing so at a stadium like Riazor, with fans returning to La Liga hungry for big nights. The adaptation will be demanding, but the environment can also propel him forward.

Dépor will not demand that he be a star from day one. The idea is for him to arrive to compete, learn, and provide a real alternative in midfield. His youth allows him to develop without undue pressure, although the team will need the new signings to deliver performance quickly.

The deal is nearly finalized, with only the last bureaucratic and medical steps remaining. If all goes as planned, Teun Gijselhart will be Deportivo's first reinforcement in their return to La Liga.

A discreet signing, but a meaningful one. A bet on young talent, controlled costs, and room for improvement for a club that aims to return to the elite with feet on the ground but without giving up on building a competitive project.