Andre Ayew’s NAC Breda have been relegated from the Dutch Eredivisie after results elsewhere confirmed the club can no longer avoid the drop, despite their own match in the penultimate round failing to reach a conclusion.
The Dutch side’s fate was sealed after 16th-placed Volendam drew 1-1 with Excelsior, a result that moved Volendam onto 32 points. That tally leaves them seven points ahead of NAC Breda, who have only two matches remaining in the season.
With just six points still available, NAC can no longer climb out of the relegation places and are therefore set to compete in the Eerste Division next season.
Breda currently sit 17th in the 18-team league table and their relegation was mathematically confirmed even before the outcome of their abandoned fixture against Heerenveen could be determined.
The game against Heerenveen was halted after fireworks were set off inside the stadium. However, events elsewhere in the league meant the suspension of the match had no bearing on the final outcome of Breda’s season.
The relegation marks a disappointing campaign for the club, which had hoped to retain its place in the Dutch top flight but instead struggled throughout the season.
Former Ghana captain Andre Dede Ayew joined NAC Breda in January as a free agent in an effort to strengthen the team during the second half of the campaign. However, the experienced forward has managed just one goal in 16 league appearances since his arrival.
Ayew has not been the only Ghanaian player involved at the club this season. Fellow Black Stars players Kamal Sowah and Denis Odoi are also part of the Breda squad.
The club’s relegation is likely to raise questions about the future direction of the team as it prepares for life in the second tier next season.
NAC Breda General Manager Remco Oversier admitted the outcome had dealt a painful blow to everyone connected with the club.
“For everyone who holds NAC dear, this is a huge blow. Relegation naturally hits extremely hard.”
The club now faces the challenge of rebuilding ahead of next season in the Eerste Division after their stay in the Eredivisie came to an end with games still left to play.
Although Breda still have two fixtures remaining before the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season, the gap to safety is now insurmountable following Volendam’s draw with Excelsior.
The confirmation of relegation closes a difficult chapter for the club, whose campaign was marked by inconsistency and disappointment. The abandonment of the Heerenveen match added further drama to an already difficult situation, but by the end of the round of fixtures Breda’s fate had already been decided.
Attention will now turn to preparations for next season, with the club aiming to regroup after suffering relegation from Dutch football’s top division.
