Feyenoord midfielder Jakub Moder is closing in on his much-anticipated return to action after fully participating in team training this week, though manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has firmly shut down speculation regarding the Polish international’s immediate future at De Kuip. Speaking at a Friday press conference ahead of the club’s upcoming Eredivisie home fixture against AZ, Van Bronckhorst addressed both Moder’s physical recovery from a severe knee injury sustained on April 12, 2025, against NEC, and recent reports from Poland linking the 27-year-old with a potential transfer back to his boyhood club, Lech Poznań.
Giovanni Van Bronckhorst Rejects Transfer Exit Rumors
Speculation surrounding Moder’s future intensified recently when reports in Polish media indicated that Lech Poznań leadership had discussed bringing the midfielder back during a meeting with season ticket holders. According to accounts shared by supporters on social media platform X, the Ekstraklasa club maintains contact with the 36-cap Poland international regarding a possible return. However, Van Bronckhorst made it unequivocally clear that a departure is completely off the table for the current transfer window or near future.
The Feyenoord manager emphasized that Moder remains firmly in his plans once fully match-fit. “It is a player I have seen play well for Feyenoord in the past. A good player, a physical player. He knows how the game should be played, also when I see him busy on the training ground. It is a player who may stay with me. He has a lot of quality and potential.”
Knee Injury Recovery Nears Completion in Rotterdam
Moder has endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines since suffering a serious knee injury during a league match on April 12. Having missed the entirety of the current campaign so far without making a single official appearance, the midfielder returned to full training with the Rotterdam squad this week. Training images shared by the club earlier in the week showed Moder actively contesting duels, including physical sequences against teammate Gonçalo Borges.
While Van Bronckhorst expressed optimism that the midfielder could feature in upcoming matchday squads within the next few weeks, the manager confirmed he will not be risked immediately against AZ. “I hope that he can make minutes in the coming weeks, or be available. Those are positive things. The task now is to get fit.”
Gijs Smal Progresses Alongside Packed Autumn Schedule
In addition to the positive updates surrounding Moder, Feyenoord received encouraging fitness news regarding left-back Gijs Smal. The defender has been out of commission since early July due to an ankle injury. Van Bronckhorst reported that while Smal has not yet resumed full group training, his recovery is progressing rapidly. “Gijs Smal has not yet trained with the team, but he is very close to that,” the Feyenoord coach stated.
The return of both players arrives at a critical juncture for the Rotterdam club, which faces a grueling fixture block leading into the November international break. Following Saturday’s home clash against AZ, Feyenoord’s demanding schedule includes European and domestic tests against Como, Telstar, Real Betis, PSV, Fortuna Sittard, Inter Milan, and SC Heerenveen. With such a relentless sequence of matches on the horizon, Van Bronckhorst stressed the absolute necessity of having a deep and fully available squad.
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