2025–26 K.V. Mechelen season

K.V. Mechelen
2025–26 season
ManagerFrederik Vanderbiest
StadiumAchter de Kazerne
Belgian Pro Leagueth

The 2025–26 season is the 122nd season in the history of K.V. Mechelen, and the club's seventh consecutive season in the Belgian Pro League. In addition to the domestic league, the team will participate in the Belgian Cup. During the season, he club qualified for the Champions play-offs for the first time in the club's history.[1]

Summary

Fredrik Hammar was named club captain in September 2025.[2]

Current squad

As of 4 February, 2026[3]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  BEL Ortwin De Wolf
2 DF  MAR Redouane Halhal
3 DF  ESP José Marsà
4 DF  SEN Gora Diouf
6 MF  SWE Fredrik Hammar
7 DF  FRA Thérence Koudou
8 MF  GUI Mory Konaté
9 MF  NED Myron van Brederode
10 MF  BLR Maksim Kireev
11 MF  BEL Bilal Bafdili
12 FW  BFA Hassane Bandé
13 GK  ESP Nacho Miras
14 FW  BEL Benito Raman
15 GK  BEL Tijn Van Ingelgom
17 MF  BEL Mathis Servais
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF  BEL Ian Struyf
19 FW  SWE Kerim Mrabti
21 FW  TUR Halil Özdemir
22 DF  SVN Lovro Golič
23 DF  MAR Moncef Zekri
27 FW  BEL Keano Vanrafelghem
28 FW  NED Bouke Boersma
29 MF  TOG Dikeni Salifou
32 GK  BEL Axel Willockx
33 DF  CUW Tommy St. Jago
34 FW  BEL Xavi Everaert
38 FW  ZIM Bill Antonio
39 MF  BEL Massimo Decoene
40 MF  MAR Amine Ouahabi
94 FW  BEL Mauro Lenaerts

Transactions

In

Pos. Player Transferred from Notes Date Source
DF Tommy St. Jago Willem II Transfer 18 June 2025 [4]
DF Gora Diouf FC Sion Transfer 30 June 2025 [5]
DF Thérence Koudou Pau FC Transfer 23 July 2025 [6]
FW Maksim Kireev Lierse Transfer 25 August 2025 [7]
MF Myron van Brederode AZ Alkmaar Transfer 6 September 2025 [8]
MF Dikeni Salifou SV Werder Bremen Transfer 7 September 2025 [9]
FW Mathis Servais Beveren Transfer 9 September 2025 [10]
FW Hassane Bandé HJK Signed after a trial period 23 October 2025 [11]

Competitions

Belgian Pro League

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
2 Club Brugge (Q) 29 19 3 7 55 35 +20 60 Qualification for the Champions' play-offs
3 Sint-Truiden (Q) 29 18 3 8 46 32 +14 57
4 Mechelen (Q) 29 12 9 8 38 33 +5 45
5 Anderlecht 29 12 8 9 41 36 +5 44
6 Gent 29 12 6 11 46 42 +4 42
Updated to match(es) played on 15 March 2026. Source: Jupiler Pro League (in Dutch)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away matches won; 6) Away goal difference; 7) Away goals scored; 8) Play-off.[12]
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated

Matches

Belgian Cup

28 October 2025 Mechelen 2–1 Lierse Mechelen
20:30 CET
  • Lauberbach 43'
  • Van Brederode 74'
Report
  • Lenaerts 23'
Stadium: Achter de Kazerne
4 December 2025 Charleroi 2–0 Mechelen Charleroi
20:30 CET
Report Stadium: Stade du Pays de Charleroi

References

  1. ^ ""De ontlading van 17 jaar wachten": emotionele Fred Vanderbiest schrijft geschiedenis met KV Mechelen" [“The release of 17 years of waiting”: emotional Fred Vanderbiest makes history with KV Mechelen]. www.hln.be (in Dutch).
  2. ^ "Fredrik Hammar blir kapten i Mechelen". www.aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). 11 September 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Selectie" [Selection] (in Dutch). K.V. Mechelen. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Tommy St. Jago is nieuwste aanwinst" [Tommy St. Jago is the newest asset] (in Dutch). K.V. Mechelen. 18 June 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Gora Diouf volgende aanwinst Malinwa". 30 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Thérence Koudou versterkt rechterflank" [Thérence Koudou strengthens right flank] (in Dutch). K.V. Mechelen. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Maxim Kireev komt over van Lierse" [Maxim Kireev comes over from Lierse] (in Dutch). K.V. Mechelen. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  8. ^ "Myron Van Brederode versterkt Malinwa" [Myron Van Brederode strengthens Malinwa] (in Dutch). K.V. Mechelen. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Malinwa verwelkomt Dikeni Salifou" [Malinwa welcomes Dikeni Salifou] (in Dutch). K.V. Mechelen. 7 September 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Welkom bij Malinwa Mathis Servais" [Welcome to Malinwa Mathis Servais] (in Dutch). K.V. Mechelen. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  11. ^ "Welkom thuis, Hassane Bandé" [Welcome home, Hassane Bandé] (in Dutch). K.V. Mechelen. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  12. ^ "Bondsreglement Titel 7: Competities" [Association Rules Title 7: Competitions] (PDF). Royal Belgian Football Association. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2020.