Esmee Brugts’ development at Barcelona

◆1 source

Dutch international Esmee Brugts, 23, said she had grown personally and as a player during her three years at FC Barcelona, after joining from PSV following the 2023 World Cup. She said she had adapted to life away from her family and was learning Barcelona’s playing style, while increasingly being asked to take on a leadership role for both her club and the Netherlands.

Brugts has won three league titles, two Champions League titles, three Spanish Cups and three Spanish Super Cups with Barcelona, according to the account. She was nominated for the Ballon d’Or and finished 17th in the voting. She was due to play for Barcelona against Arsenal in the Champions League and said she still wanted to develop further and achieve success with the Dutch national team.

More on this story

Sports

FC Utrecht Women plans financial independence by 2030

1 source

FC Utrecht Women is developing a plan to become financially independent by 2030 after the club reduced its budget for the women’s branch. Manager Marlou Peeters said the branch is no longer running at a deficit, although shareholders still provide support. The club wants to attract investors and sponsors specifically for the women’s team and eventually operate with its own management and accommodation. It is also considering joining the first collective labour agreement for women’s football next year. The cuts followed a strong previous season but led to 13 players and coach Linda Helbling leaving, while the team was rebuilt largely with youth players under Sylvia Smit. Training moved from Zoudenbalch to amateur club VV De Meern, and some staff positions were reduced or made voluntary. On the field, Utrecht won for the first time at the end of October but remained last after nine matches. Peeters said the season’s aim is to finish in the top six, while acknowledging that the 2030 target may not be realistic because no investor has yet been secured and the stability of the competition remains uncertain.

Sports

Ajax reach Women’s Europa Cup quarter-finals as Feyenoord and PSV exit

6 sources

Ajax reached the quarter-finals of the Women’s Europa Cup by winning 2-0 away to Malmö FF, overturning its 2-1 first-leg defeat. One report said Ajax scored both goals late in the match. PSV were eliminated after a 2-1 defeat away to Eintracht Frankfurt, following their 2-0 home loss, while Feyenoord lost 3-0 at home to VfL Wolfsburg after being beaten 7-0 in Germany.