The Go Ahead Eagles captain was rumoured to leave the Deventer club after 4.5 years for Feyenoord. After the club's 3-1 UEFA Europa League loss to OGC Nice on Thursday, Mats Deijl confirmed the imminent transfer in a flash interview.
"I've played my last game for the club. It only needs my signature, but if the team bus makes it to the hotel, I'm a Feyenoord player," Deijl told Ziggo Sport.
The timing of Deijl's announcement - mere minutes after the loss that likely eliminates Go Ahead Eagles from European contention - was unique, but the right-back said it was time to move on.
"Of course, you want to end things right, but when a club like Feyenoord comes along, I don't think you'd want to wait until the summer. We've had good talks, it feels right, and it's a dream step for me. As a young player, you dream of going to the very top."
Trophy-winning captain
The 28-year-old Deijl joined Go Ahead Eagles in 2021 on a free transfer from FC Den Bosch. Since joining the Eagles, the club has grown to become a stable top-half team.
With Deijl as their captain, Go Ahead Eagles won their first major trophy in nearly 100 years by beating AZ in last year's KNVB Beker final, during which Deijl scored the equalising penalty in added time. The cup win earned the Eagles a ticket to the League Phase UEFA Europa League - their first European voyage since 1966.
Feyenoord beat Austrian champions Sturm Graz earlier on Thursday to keep their UEFA Europa League dreams alive ahead of their final League Phase game against Real Betis.
Mats Deijl will become Feyenoord's second acquisition of the January transfer window. Earlier on Thursday, the Rotterdam club confirmed the return of defender Jeremiah St. Juste following a free-transfer move from Sporting Portugal.