CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati have acquired defender Maikel van der Werff (pronounced MY-kull van-der-VAIRF) using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM). He will be added to the active roster pending the receipt of his P1-Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC) when the Secondary Transfer Window opens on July 9.
Van der Werff, 30, joins FC Cincinnati after spending the last seven seasons in the Netherlands’ Eredivisie with Vitesse (2015-19) and PEC Zwolle (2013-15). The center back has captured two Dutch Cups, one Johan Cruyff Shield and most recently wore the captain’s armband for Vitesse for parts of the 2018-19 season. A native of Hoorn, Netherlands, van der Werff will occupy an international roster spot on FC Cincinnati’s roster.
“We are pleased to be able to add a quality player and we’d like to welcome Maikel to FC Cincinnati,” FC Cincinnati General Manager Gerard Nijkamp said. “He brings a high level of experience and leadership to our backline and will be an excellent addition as we solidify our style of play. We look forward to integrating Maikel with our current group and eagerly anticipate his future as an FC Cincinnati player.”
“I’m very happy and proud with this move to FC Cincinnati,” van der Werff said. “I was able to visit for the match against the LA Galaxy and the atmosphere was great. I’m looking forward to playing and being part of this team.”
The center back has made a combined 247 first-team appearances, including 207 starts, during the course of his 11 professional seasons in the Netherlands. Van der Werff has scored 23 goals and added 19 assists across all competitions with Vitesse, PEC Zwolle and Dutch second-tier side FC Volendam (2008-13). In the recently concluded 2018-19 season, van der Werff made 30 appearances for Vitesse across all competitions, where he scored four goals and added four assists.
Van der Werff’s professional career began in 2008, when he made his professional debut for FC Volendam in a Dutch Cup third-round match against AFC Ajax. The center back went on to make 76 appearances, score 11 goals and add nine assists across all competitions during the course of his five seasons with Volendam.
Following the 2011-12 season, van der Werff joined newly promoted side PEC Zwolle in the Dutch top-tier Eredivisie. In three seasons with PEC Zwolle, van der Werff made 77 appearances, scored eight goals and added two assists. In 2013-14, van Der Werff started 5-of-6 Dutch Cup matches as PEC Zwolle went on to win their first-ever major trophy. The following season, the center back was part of the squad that not only claimed the 2014 Johan Cruyff Shield via a 1-0 win against Ajax, but also recorded the club’s highest-ever finish in the Eredivisie – sixth place.
Van der Werff joined Vitesse for the 2015-16 Eredivisie season. In four seasons with the Arnhem-based squad, van der Werff made 94 appearances, scored four goals and registered eight assists across all competitions. The center back added a third trophy to his resume when Vitesse defeated AZ Alkmaar, 1-0, to claim the 2016-17 Dutch Cup. Vitesse competed in the UEFA Europa League in three of his four seasons with the club.
FCC will host the Houston Dynamo in a special “Americana” celebration at Nippert Stadium on Saturday, July 6. All tickets for the game are on sale at fccincinnati.com/tickets or by calling 513-977-5425 (KICK). Pick-Six mini plans, and individual-game tickets and group options are on sale for all remaining games.
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati.
Transaction: FC Cincinnati acquired defender Maikel van der Werff using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) on July 2, 2019.
MAIKEL VAN DER WERFF
Pronunciation: MY-kull van-der-VAIRF
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 181
Birthdate: April 22, 1989
Birthplace: Hoorn, Netherlands
Hometown: Hoorn, Netherlands
Last Club: Vitesse (NED)
Nationality: Netherlands
MLS Roster Status: International Player
How Acquired: Via signing using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) on July 2, 2019
