AZ Alkmaar striker Sem van Duijn has joined FC Utrecht on a season-long loan for the 2026/2027 Eredivisie campaign. The 22-year-old's move includes a purchase option for the Utrecht club.
The transfer reunites Van Duijn with his former manager. Antonio Correia, who moved from Telstar to take over at FC Utrecht this summer, previously coached the striker last season. Van Duijn made sixteen appearances for the newly-promoted Telstar, scoring five goals and providing two assists. His existing relationship with Correia played a significant part in facilitating the move.
The structure of the deal gives FC Utrecht a full year to decide on making the move permanent. For AZ Alkmaar, this allows them to monitor the player's development at another top-flight club while keeping the door open for a future financial return. It's a common arrangement for a young player who primarily featured for Jong AZ Alkmaar. Over two seasons with the reserve team in the Dutch second tier, Van Duijn found the net fifteen times in 43 league games.
AZ currently sits firmly atop the Eredivisie table with twelve points from four matches and a +10 goal difference. The club's perfect start has been powered by an attack that has scored thirteen goals so far. This form and squad depth make loaning out a prospect like Van Duijn a logical step. Supporters can track the live league table on our standings page.
Sem van Duijn started his career at amateur side Quick Boys. His productivity there was notable, with 22 goals in 70 total appearances, including nineteen during the 2023/2024 season alone. Those performances earned him a move to AZ Alkmaar in 2024. He made just two senior appearances for AZ's first team. His loan spell at Telstar last season provided his first taste of Eredivisie football, and his stats demonstrate an ability to both score and create.
Van Duijn's departure sees a player ready for more Eredivisie minutes move on. For AZ, it clears a path for other forwards in the squad while allowing the club to monitor the loanee's progress from afar. The immediate focus remains on maintaining their league leadership. AZ holds a five-point lead over nearest rivals PSV Eindhoven. The next challenge is an away fixture against Heerenveen, who currently sit tenth. The full schedule is available on our fixtures page. The strong start to the season highlights the depth and quality of the current squad overview.
