NAC Breda have confirmed that Ghana internationals Andre Ayew and Denis Odoi will leave the club at the end of the season after the Dutch side opted not to extend their contracts following relegation from the Eredivisie.
The club’s demotion to the Dutch second tier was sealed after a 2-0 defeat away to FC Utrecht last week, with NAC Breda unable to recover despite having two league matches still remaining.
The Yellow and Blacks currently occupy 17th place in the table with 25 points, and even victories in their final two fixtures would not be enough to secure survival.
In the aftermath of relegation, the club announced that the extension clauses in the contracts of Ayew and Odoi would not be activated, bringing an end to the pair’s brief spells at the Rat Verlegh Stadion.
Ayew, the former Ghana captain, only arrived at NAC Breda in January this year as the club attempted to strengthen its squad in the battle against relegation. Odoi, the Belgian-born Ghanaian defender, joined earlier in November last year.
Despite the experience brought by both players, NAC Breda were unable to avoid dropping out of the top flight.
The departures mean the two players will become free agents during the summer transfer window, allowing them to look for new clubs ahead of next season.
Ayew’s future is likely to attract attention given his long career at both club and international level. The forward has previously played in several European leagues and remains one of Ghana’s most recognisable football figures. His move to NAC Breda had been viewed as an opportunity to help the Dutch club retain its top-flight status, but the team’s struggles continued during the second half of the campaign.
Odoi also faces a decision over the next stage of his career after spending only a short period with the club. The experienced defender joined NAC Breda midway through the season but will now leave following the team’s relegation.
While Ayew and Odoi are preparing to move on, another Ghanaian player at the club appears set to remain despite the setback.
Kamal Sowah, the Right to Dream Academy graduate, still has one and a half years left on his current contract with NAC Breda. Unlike his compatriots, his future remains tied to the club as they prepare for life in the second division.
NAC Breda’s relegation marks a disappointing end to a difficult campaign in which the club struggled to gather enough points to climb out of danger. With only 25 points from the season so far, their fate was effectively sealed before the final rounds of matches.
The decision not to retain Ayew and Odoi is expected to form part of a wider rebuilding process as NAC Breda reshape their squad for next season in the second tier.
For Ayew and Odoi, however, attention will now turn to securing new opportunities elsewhere as they prepare to leave the Netherlands at the conclusion of the campaign.
