Four new Belgian Pro League players with EFL aspirations

Will Daniels finds some gems from the fresh intake of players from the January window who may be of benefit to the EFL clubs long term

Among Europe’s second-tier leagues: the English Championship, Primeira Liga, Eredivisie, Belgian Pro League, and Turkish Süper Lig - Belgium now has a clear economic role.

Over the last five seasons, Belgian clubs have shifted from balanced trading to selling more players than they buy. In the past two years, they sold players for over €400 million but spent less than half that amount on new signings. The numbers vary each year, but the main trend is clear: sales are rising, while spending remains steady.

This approach sets Belgium apart from most of its peers. The Championship spends much more overall, and the Süper Lig spends more than it sells. Portugal and the Eredivisie also sell a lot, but Belgian clubs tend to reinvest more actively.

Belgian clubs no longer regularly buy players aged 23 to 27 with top-level experience. Instead, they spend more on younger prospects, early development, and transfers within their own league.

In practice, Belgium’s recruitment strategy now looks more like the Eredivisie than the Championship. Clubs sign players earlier, focus on younger talent, and aim for resale value. There are fewer signings at their physical or performance peak.

This change was clear during the January 2026 transfer window.