Hannes Van der Bruggen
based on the 2025/26 season · updated 25 Aug 2026
Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · Cercle Brugge.
Scout report
H. Van der Bruggen is a 33-year-old defensive midfielder at Cercle Brugge, enjoying a standout season — 0 goals and 1 assists in 32 appearances, a Season grade of 30, top 57% of Jupiler Pro League defensive midfielders. On long-term scout potential he's rated 21.7, ranking 71st of 75 in the Jupiler Pro League. A seasoned veteran, he has been a regular starter (79.3% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 4.27 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Bruggen.
Judged on this season alone, Bruggen graded 30 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 4th of 7 of the 7 defensive midfielders in the Jupiler Pro League, on 0 goals, 1 assist and 4.274 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 31 → 30). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2021/22.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 22, 6th of 7 of the 7 defensive midfielders in the Jupiler Pro League. At 33 Bruggen is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 4 reflects that trajectory.
Below his 2021/22 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.
Output in context · Cercle Brugge finished 13th of 18 · a lower-table side
4.27 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 6 clean sheets across 32 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (13th of 18) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 0 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.
Strengths
- Availability. On the pitch for 79.3% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
- Defensive volume. 4.27 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.
Watch points
- Age curve. At 33, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
- Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.
Outlook
With a Rating of 21.7, Bruggen carries the 6th-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the Jupiler Pro League of 7, and he is posting that for a lower-table side (Cercle Brugge finished 13th of 18) — individual numbers are harder to earn on a struggling team, so his underlying level likely sits a touch above the ranking. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (4.27 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.7× and falling).
Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.
Season statistics
Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the Jupiler Pro League with 600+ minutes this season.
Shooting
Passing
Defending
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Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
