Talent calendar
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The rise of Jadiel Pereira da Gama (16) almost seems like a modern football fairy tale. He was born in Almere in 2009 and came into contact with professional football at a young age. The defensive midfielder came to PEC Zwolle in 2017 via the local pitches, where his talent was immediately noticed. In the youth teams, Pereira da Gama impressed with his technique, his clever positioning and his physical advantage over his peers. Everything seemed to happen almost by itself.
The club quickly realized that they had something special in their ranks. In the summer of 2025, when he was not even 16 years old, Pereira da Gama received his first professional contract. For PEC, known for nurturing talent, this was a clear signal that he is a player of the future. And this contract was not just a formality, but was also backed up with actions. The youngster trains regularly with the first team and immediately showed that he can keep up. His calmness on the ball and his overview of the game were noticeable – qualities that often only become apparent later in a defensive midfielder.
Jadiel Pereira da Gama’s unforgettable Eredivisie debut
Its peak so far occurred on August 15th of this year. In the game against SC Telstar, Pereira da Gama got his first minutes in the Eredivisie in the final phase. It was only a short stint, but one with historical value: Pereira da Gama became the youngest debutant in the history of the Dutch upper house. A record that Wim Kras had held since 1959 and seemed almost unsurpassable was suddenly broken. For PEC, this was proof that a great jewel had been found and cut. For the rest of the Netherlands, however, it was the moment when many people asked themselves who exactly was this 15-year-old who had just made history.
When you look at how Pereira da Gama plays, you immediately understand why he broke through so quickly. He is not a classic “vacuum cleaner” who just wins balls, but someone who lets the game run its course. His first touch of the ball is almost always good, he acts quickly and his positioning appears natural. He loves setting the pace, spreading the game wide and getting his teammates moving. In his youth teams, he was often the one who brought calm when things got chaotic.
The attention following his historic debut was immense. “15 years and 243 days? I didn’t know that, no,” Pereira da Gama admitted afterwards on “ESPN”. “I haven’t really realized it yet. I think I need to sleep on it first and then I’ll realize it.” Of course he was nervous, he added. “I found it really exciting, but when you step on the field it goes away. I was afraid of making mistakes. You just want to prove yourself and then you’re afraid of making mistakes.” But the broad grin never left his face after the final whistle.
With his record, he also symbolizes the new generation of talent that PEC Zwolle wants to train. The club has been investing in young talent for years and Pereira da Gama seems to be the best example of what can come of it. The fact that a 16-year-old is already part of the first team says a lot about the teenager’s technical and mental qualities.
PSV Eindhoven and Ajax Amsterdam are interested in Pereira da Gama
As with any highly gifted talent, the coming years will be crucial for Pereira da Gama as he is in the midst of his physical development. PEC must therefore pay careful attention to him if the club wants to have a lot of fun with him in the future. Training, games and school must remain in balance. So far this season he has made seven short appearances for the professionals. In the future, he should ideally get a permanent place in the team.
If he continues to develop like this, bigger clubs will inevitably come knocking. Last summer, PSV Eindhoven and Ajax Amsterdam, among others, were interested in him. Pereira da Gama received his first market value of 1.5 million euros on his 16th birthday.
The Dutchman is still only thinking about Zwolle and has big dreams. When asked about his goals for the season, Pereira da Gama was in the mood to joke after his professional debut in August. “Champions League,” he said. With PEC? “Yes, we are in first place, so…” The team that was tenth in the previous season had started the season with two wins and was at the top of the Eredivisie overnight. Zwolle is now far behind.
Every day from December 1st to 24th, Transfermarkt will present a talent from the 2008 or 2009 vintage from a different country. Sponsors, data scouts and users act as experts and report interesting facts about 24 young players in our talent calendar who you should keep a close eye on in the future. For example with the TM-Watchlist.
