Official news: Naestadt is set to extend his contract with Twente until 2029. The 18-year-old Dutch defender had attracted attention from clubs such as Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Twente officially announced that Naestadt is about to sign a new contract with the club. The 18-year-old defender will soon sign a deal lasting until mid-2029.
For some time, the question of whether Naestadt would renew his contract has attracted much attention. Many clubs, both domestic and especially foreign, wanted to sign him, but he ultimately chose to continue his nascent career at Twente. He feels he has found a sense of belonging here and wishes to continue growing and improving.
Ten Hag said: "Last season, Naestadt made his first-team debut at the age of 17 and showed himself to be a highly talented defender. Because of this, clubs including several European giants showed strong interest in him. We are very pleased that Ruud chose to extend his contract. He feels at home here, the fans are proud of him, and he has deep ties to this region. Twente has the capabilities and conditions needed to help him grow further, and he is of great value for achieving our ambitious goals. It is gratifying to see a player from the region, who came through the club's youth system, develop in this way. I hope this can be an example for other talented players. Ruud symbolizes Twente's identity: as a regional club, we give young players the opportunity to showcase themselves at the highest domestic and international levels."
Naestadt said: "I have experienced and learned a lot at Twente over the past six months. I don't feel like I've done everything there is to do at Twente yet. I had many options and thought about them carefully. After weighing all the pros and cons, staying here, in an environment I'm familiar with, felt best. As a footballer, I can still continue to improve at Twente, and I believe this is the best environment for me to learn and grow. Next season, I am particularly looking forward to participating in European competitions, something I have never experienced before."
Naestadt has been in the Twente youth system since 2019. Naestadt initially started playing in the DETO youth team in Vriezenveen and moved to the Twente Academy at the age of 11. The Dutch youth international made his Twente first-team debut on October 5, 2025, in a home match against Heracles, at the age of 17. Naestadt made 24 appearances and scored 1 goal for Twente in his first senior season.