Sydney van Hooijdonk returns to the Eredivisie

Sydney van Hooijdonk is heading straight back to the Vriendenloterij Eredivisie. The 26-year-old striker will spend the rest of the season at PEC Zwolle, De Telegraaf reported on Tuesday. Van Hooijdonk joined Portuguese side Estrela Amadora on a free transfer from NAC Breda in January.

PEC are taking the striker on loan for the season and have agreed a realistic option to buy. He could make his debut as soon as Friday against Sparta Rotterdam.

De Telegraaf reported that Van Hooijdonk was seen at Schiphol on Monday, where Gerry Hamstra, PEC's technical manager, met him. The Zwolle club also posted a video on X showing an airport and an aeroplane, pointing to a player's arrival.

After returning to NAC Breda in 2025, the forward moved to Estrela Amadora six months later. Van Hooijdonk has since fallen out of favour in Portugal, so a fresh start at PEC will come at the right time.

Earlier in his career, Van Hooijdonk played for Bologna, Cesena, Norwich City and sc Heerenveen. In Friesland, Pierre van Hooijdonk's son scored 26 goals in 54 matches.

PEC have lost three of their first four matches of the new season and scored only four times. They could certainly use a new striker to climb the table.

There, Van Hooijdonk will compete with Koen Kostons. He scored against NEC as recently as Saturday, with the visitors winning 3-1 in Zwolle.