Anderlecht has opened the contract of youth player Alexander De Ridder. The 18-year-old midfielder signed a new deal. This marks the third contract extension for the talented De Ridder, who joined the Brussels club's academy at the age of nine.
"This third contract extension means a lot to me," De Ridder responded on Anderlecht's website. The player, born in Kiev in 2008 to a Belgian father and Ukrainian mother, made his professional debut last season for RSCA Futures in the Challenger Pro League. He played against SK Beveren and became a regular for the reserve team.
His official debut for Anderlecht's first team came in the lost derby at Union Saint-Gilloise, a match that ended in a 5-1 defeat. That experience fuels his ambition to earn more playing time with the senior squad this season. Anderlecht currently sit eleventh in the Jupiler Pro League with seven points from five matches. The team has scored three goals and conceded five.
De Ridder's extension is part of a broader strategy to prepare youth players for the first team. His progress can be tracked in the club's squad. De Ridder aims to gradually take on a more important role. Competition in midfield is fierce, but his new contract shows the club's faith in him.
The immediate focus now shifts to the upcoming league fixtures. Anderlecht play their next match away against KV Mechelen on Friday, September 11. Mechelen currently sit fifteenth in the table. The full schedule is available on the fixtures page. For De Ridder, the work to earn his place in the coach's plans begins right after the international break. His extended contract should provide the stability he needs to continue his development.
