The center-back that Barcelona rejected in the summer, now shines

Ruud Nijstad remains on FC Barcelona's transfer agenda after the Catalan club tried to sign him last summer. Deco continues to monitor the 18-year-old left-footed central defender from Twente, who turned down a close to €8 million offer. His progress this season reinforces the interest in a possible signing in 2027.

The Dutch defender, under contract until June 30, 2029, has established himself in his team's line-ups. His performances in the Eredivisie and the Conference League have increased his prominence since mid-August, accumulating 1,260 official minutes.

Ruud Nijstad impresses with his performance at Twente

Nijstad's performance fits the profile that Barça is looking for to strengthen the defensive axis. The player stands at 1.95 meters, is left-footed, and has the skills to start the buildup from the back, a trait valued by Hansi Flick.

His numbers explain why he remains on Barça's radar. Against PEC Zwolle, he completed 92 out of 97 passes with 95% accuracyFlick asks for a new center-back at Barcelona.

He has also shown consistency in European competitions. On October 15 against Thun, he ended the match with a completion rate of 95% on passes and 91% efficiency

His growth earned him a call-up to the Dutch U-21 national team for matches against Bosnia and Slovenia. Although he didn't play minutes, this call confirms that his performances are also being appreciated by the Dutch youth team managers.

Twente's coach, John van den Brom, has also used Nijstad as a left-back. This alternative was tested against ADO Den Haag and PSV, although his usual position remains at center-back.

Deco keeps Nijstad among FC Barcelona's options

The sporting direction led by Deco contacted the Dutch club during the summer transfer window. However, Erik ten Hag, sporting director of Twente, ruled out negotiating Nijstad's departure, believing that he should continue developing at the club.

The Barça proposal reportedly reached €8 million, as published during the summer. The Dutch club declined the deal and kept the player, whose market value is around €10 million.

Nijstad himself later acknowledged being aware of the contacts between both clubs. He also explained that he had decided to renew his contract to further gain experience before considering a move to a more demanding competition.

Barcelona faces more competition

The interest is not limited to Barça. PSV Eindhoven and Eintracht Frankfurt had also been monitoring his situation, although neither managed to convince Twente to allow his departure.

The next scenario will be the 2027 winter transfer market, when Deco can reassess whether to reinitiate discussions for Ruud Nijstad. Currently, there is no new formal offer, and Nijstad's contract until 2029 keeps Twente in a favorable negotiating position.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El central que el Barcelona rechazó en verano, ahora brilla