Following a turbulent 2025/26 campaign that saw the club flirt with relegation before securing safety under the guidance of experienced leadership, OH Leuven enters 2026/27 with a squad rebuilt around defensive resilience, a blend of Belgian Pro League experience and emerging young talent, and the ambition to establish themselves comfortably in mid-table after years of battling at the wrong end of the table. This is the definitive guide to the current Den Dreef squad.
Technical Leadership & Coaching Profile
Manager: Oscar Garcia
Garcia enters his second full season at Den Dreef, having steadied the ship following a difficult 2025/26 campaign that saw OH Leuven battle against relegation. The Spanish coach, who previously managed Brighton, Watford, and RB Salzburg, has brought a calm authority and a clear tactical identity to a club that had lacked both. His mandate is clear: establish OH Leuven as a sustainable Pro League club while developing the young talent emerging from the academy.
Tactical Philosophy
Garcia has implemented a disciplined 4-2-3-1 system that prioritises defensive organisation, compactness, and efficient transitions. The early-season evidence suggests a team still finding its attacking rhythm, but one that has become difficult to break down. OH Leuven’s defensive record has been among their strengths, with the experienced backline providing a foundation of stability. The attacking structure relies on the creative talents of the wide players and the movement of the central striker, with set-pieces a significant weapon given the physical profile of the squad.
Preferred Formations
4-2-3-1 / 4-4-2 in possession.
Strategic Transfer Activity
OH Leuven’s summer window focused on maintaining continuity while adding targeted quality in key positions. The club prioritised retaining the core of the squad that secured survival, supplementing it with strategic additions that addressed specific needs. The emphasis was on players with proven Belgian Pro League experience and young talents with resale potential.
Table A: Summer Major Transfer Influx
| Player | Position | Former Club | Fee Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ezechiel Banzuzi | Central Midfielder | RB Salzburg | Undisclosed |
| Joren Dom | Left-Back | — | Undisclosed |
| Mathieu Maertens | Attacking Midfielder | — | Free |
| Youssef Maziz | Winger | — | Undisclosed |
| Lucas Bostyn | Defender | — | Academy Promotion |
| Jurgen Ekkelenkamp | Attacking Midfielder | — | Undisclosed |
The First-Team Roster
Goalkeepers
Tommy Simkin (#1): The Welsh-born goalkeeper has established himself as OH Leuven’s first-choice option, his shot-stopping and command of the penalty area providing a reliable foundation behind the defensive line. His distribution quality suits Garcia’s structured build-up approach.
Tobe Leysen (#12): The young Belgian goalkeeper provides genuine competition for the starting role, his development continuing within the first-team environment.
Sammy Bossut (#22): The veteran goalkeeper provides experienced backup coverage, his professionalism valued within the goalkeeping group.
Defenders
Federico Ricca (#5): The Uruguayan centre-back remains a commanding presence at the heart of defence, his physicality and aerial dominance central to Garcia’s defensive structure.
Ewoud Pletinckx (#4): The young Belgian defender has established himself as a first-team regular, his composure on the ball and reading of the game marking him as one of the club’s most promising talents.
Pierre-Yves Ngawa (#26): The experienced defender provides versatility across the backline, his ability to operate at centre-back and right-back offering tactical flexibility.
Mathieu De Cuyper (#28): The left-back provides attacking thrust and defensive discipline, his crossing ability offering a reliable outlet on the left flank.
Schmidt Hamdi (#3): The young defender continues his development within the first-team squad, gaining valuable exposure to Pro League football.
Joël Schingtienne (#2): The 22-year-old defender has earned significant minutes, his physical presence and aerial ability offering a different dimension to the defensive options.
Lucas Bostyn (#24): The academy graduate has been promoted to the first-team squad, representing the club’s continued investment in internal pathways.
Midfielders
Ezechiel Banzuzi (#6): The young midfielder, formerly of RB Salzburg, brings physical presence and athleticism to OH Leuven’s engine room. At just 20 years old, his potential suggests a bright future, and his development within Garcia’s structure will be closely monitored.
Mathieu Maertens (#7): The experienced attacking midfielder provides creativity and goal threat from advanced positions, his leadership within the dressing room adding valuable perspective to a youthful squad.
Jurgen Ekkelenkamp (#10): The Dutch midfielder offers technical quality and progressive passing, his experience across European leagues adding a different dimension to the engine room.
Siebe Schrijvers (#11): The Belgian playmaker remains a key creative figure, his vision and set-piece delivery providing a reliable source of goal threat.
Wout Borms (#8): The young midfielder has established himself as a first-team regular, his energy and tactical discipline making him a dependable presence in the engine room.
Mamadou Koné (#14): The young defender-turned-midfielder provides physical presence and versatility, his development continuing within the first-team environment.
Youssef Maziz (#17): The winger offers direct running and creativity from wide areas, his unpredictability making him a constant threat in transition.
Elias Sierra (#20): The young midfielder provides additional depth in central areas, his development continuing within Garcia’s system.
Forwards
Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi (#9): The Nigerian striker remains OH Leuven’s primary attacking focal point, his movement and finishing instincts making him a genuine goalscoring threat. His physical profile and hold-up play offer a focal point for Garcia’s attacking structure.
Youssef El Kachati (#19): The young forward provides additional attacking depth, his energy and directness offering a different profile to the more physical Ikwuemesi.
Thomas Henry (#29): The experienced French striker provides a reliable alternative in the attacking line, his finishing ability and movement offering a different dimension to the forward options.
Nathan Opoku (#15): The Belgian forward offers pace and directness in transition, his development continuing within the first-team squad.
Jovan Mijatović (#27): The young Serbian forward provides additional depth in the attacking positions, his potential offering long-term security.
Leadership Group & Squad Regulations
Club Captain: Mathieu Maertens
The experienced attacking midfielder wears the armband and embodies the standards Garcia demands. His familiarity with Belgian Pro League football and his leadership within the dressing room are invaluable for a squad blending emerging talent with established professionals.
The Leadership Committee
Federico Ricca and Siebe Schrijvers serve as senior voices alongside Maertens, their combined experience of international and European football providing essential guidance through a challenging campaign.
Homegrown Quota Check
With Lucas Bostyn and several academy graduates in the first-team squad, OH Leuven maintains a connection to their youth pipeline. The club’s investment in internal development remains a cornerstone of its identity.
Financial & Contractual Health
Financial Balance Overview
OH Leuven’s summer business reflected a strategy of financial prudence and targeted investment. The club focused on retaining its core squad while adding quality through free transfers, loan deals, and modest transfer fees. The emphasis on players with resale potential aligns with the club’s sustainable operating model.
Contract Red Alerts
Securing the long-term futures of key young assets like Ezechiel Banzuzi and Ewoud Pletinckx will be a priority. The club’s ability to retain its most promising players — or command premium fees for their departure — remains central to its financial strategy.
The Academy Pipeline & Loan Tracker
Breakout Talents to Watch
Lucas Bostyn (#24) has earned promotion to the first-team squad, his development reflecting the academy’s productivity. Ezechiel Banzuzi (#6) arrives with a reputation forged at RB Salzburg, his potential suggesting a bright future.
Notable Out on Loan
OH Leuven’s loan strategy has focused on providing regular first-team football for emerging talents, with several academy graduates gaining valuable experience elsewhere.
Set-Piece Specialists & FPL Cheat Sheet
Penalties: Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi (First Choice) / Siebe Schrijvers (Second Choice).
Direct Free-Kicks: Siebe Schrijvers / Mathieu Maertens.
Corners & Crosses: Siebe Schrijvers / Mathieu De Cuyper.
Final Outlook: Navigating the Tactical Horizon
OH Leuven enters 2026/27 with modest expectations but renewed stability under Oscar Garcia. The club’s primary objective is clear: secure a comfortable mid-table finish and avoid the relegation battles that have characterised recent campaigns.
The early-season evidence suggests a team built on defensive resilience. Garcia’s disciplined structure has made OH Leuven difficult to break down, with the experienced backline providing a foundation of stability. The attacking output remains a work in progress, but the creative talents of Maertens, Schrijvers, and Maziz offer genuine goal threat when the structure clicks.
The challenges ahead are substantial. The fixture list will test squad depth as the season progresses, and the margin for error in the Pro League is perilously thin. But the ingredients for a successful campaign are present: a tactically astute coach in Garcia, a reliable goalscorer in Ikwuemesi, and a squad that blends experience with emerging talent. The Den Dreef faithful, who have endured years of struggle, are hoping that this is the season their club finally establishes itself as a sustainable top-flight force. The foundation is secure, the ambition remains, and the path forward is clear.
