Premier League dominates Netherlands World Cup squad

Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch high-five each other.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch will feature in his first World Cup this summer

ByBen RamsdaleBBC Sport journalist

Published19 minutes ago

Ronald Koeman's Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup will be dominated by Premier League players, with 15 of the 26 coming from England's top flight.

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk has been selected alongside club team-mates Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo, although there is no place for Jeremie Frimpong.

Injured Arsenal full-back Jurrien Timber has been picked despite not having featured for the Gunners since March because of an ankle injury.

Timber joins a Premier League heavy defensive room, with six of the seven selected coming from Premier League clubs.

Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven and Chelsea's Jorrel Hato are among those selected, with Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries being the sole non-Premier League representative.

Brighton trio Bart Verbruggen, Jan Paul van Hecke and Mats Wieffer all earn call-ups while Manchester City duo Nathan Ake and Tijjani Reijnders also get the nod.

Sunderland's Robin Roefs, who is yet to play for his country, gets the nod in the goalkeeping department alongside Verbruggen and Bayer Leverkusen's Mark Flekken.

There's also a place in the side for Black Cats forward Brian Brobbey, while Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert and West Ham United forward Crysencio Summerville make up the Premier League contingent.

Netherlands World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton), Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen), Robin Roefs (Sunderland)

Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jurrien Timber (Arsenal), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Noah Lang (Galatasaray), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Guus Til (PSV), Quinten Timber (Marseille), Mats Wieffer (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Forwards: Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Donyell Malen (AS Roma), Crysencio Summerville (West Ham United), Wout Weghorst (Ajax)