Club NXT are being linked with a move for RWDM Brussels’ DR Congo-Belgium centre-back Manoël Verhaeghe, 18, as the Challenger Pro League side assess defensive options for next season.
The teenager, who stands at 1.87m and wears the number 47 shirt for RWDM, is rated at €1.20m on Transfermarkt, with Belgian reports suggesting Club NXT have identified him as a potential long-term project in central defence. The move is currently classed as a rumour with the probability marked only as “?”, and there is no indication yet of an agreed fee or personal terms.
Verhaeghe’s contract situation at RWDM is unclear, with no expiry date publicly listed. That uncertainty has fuelled talk that he could become a free agent in the near future if no new deal is signed, a scenario that would significantly strengthen Club NXT’s hand should negotiations open.
Capped at club level only, the dual-nationality defender – eligible for both DR Congo and Belgium – has been developing within RWDM Brussels’ set-up in the Belgian Challenger Pro League. Primarily a right-footed centre-back, he is viewed as a modern defender comfortable operating in a high line.
Recent performances in the second tier have added to the interest. In RWDM’s latest league outing against fellow Challenger Pro League opposition earlier this month – a tight contest that finished level on the night – Verhaeghe completed the 90 minutes at the heart of defence, helping limit clear-cut chances and underlining his potential at professional level.
With both RWDM and Club NXT competing in the same division, any deal would be closely watched in Belgian youth circles. If the move does materialise, it could mark the next step in Verhaeghe’s progression, shaping his reputation as one of the more promising young defenders emerging from the Challenger Pro League.
