NAC Breda confirm departures of Andre Ayew and Denis Odoi following relegation

NAC Breda have officially confirmed that veteran duo Andre Ayew and Denis Odoi will leave the club following the final match of the Eredivisie season this Sunday. The club opted against extending their contracts after a turbulent campaign that ended in relegation to the Eerste Divisie .

The departures mark the end of a short but difficult spell for both players, who were brought in during the winter transfer window to use their extensive experience to steer the “Pearl of the South” away from danger. Despite their pedigree, the team officially finished 17th in the 18-team league, seven points adrift of safety, mathematically sealing their fate before the final matchday .

A Disappointing Stint for Ayew

For Ghanaian international Andre Ayew, the move to the Rat Verlegh Stadion was expected to be a “masterstroke” to provide leadership to a young squad. However, the 36-year-old struggled to replicate his past form in the demanding environment of the Dutch top flight.

In 16 league appearances since arriving as a free agent in January, Ayew managed to find the back of the net only once. His sole highlight came against reigning champions Feyenoord, a brief flash of the clinical finishing that defined his career in the Premier League and Ligue 1 . Manager Carl Hoefkens noted that despite the veteran presence of Ayew, the team struggled to handle the immense pressure of the relegation battle, often missing the “vital points” needed to survive .

Odoi’s Defensive Struggles

Similarly, defender Denis Odoi, 37, was unable to provide the defensive solidity NAC desperately needed. Statistical analysis from the 2025/2026 season shows the Ghanaian international recorded zero goals and zero assists across his appearances for the club . While his work rate remained high, the defense consistently crumbled under opposition pressure, with the team failing to keep many clean sheets during the run-in .

A Season of Chaos and Rebuilding

The confirmation of the departures comes as the club attempts to move on from a season plagued by on-field struggles and off-field incidents. The penultimate home match against Heerenveen was famously abandoned in the 82nd minute after fans threw fireworks and flares onto the pitch, a moment that General Manager Remco Oversier described as an “extreme hit” to the club’s psyche .

With Ayew and Odoi now set to exit, along with other loan players like Kamal Sowah, NAC Breda faces a massive rebuilding phase. The club is expected to slash its wage bill significantly to adjust to the financial realities of the second tier, where television revenue often drops by as much as 60% . The final match this Sunday will serve as a farewell to the experienced duo as Breda prepares for life outside the Eredivisie.