Lille’s pursuit of Zechiël gathers pace as Feyenoord weighs departure

At De Kuip this week, Gjivai Zechiël walked back into the Rotterdam sunlight after a season on loan at FC Utrecht where every pass and goal carried extra weight. According to FR12, the 22-year-old midfielder’s chances of leaving Feyenoord this summer have risen sharply. Lille OSC has intensified talks with the Rotterdam club and already lodged multiple bids for the Dutch international. The French side is also negotiating personal terms with Zechiël, with the club’s sporting project presented as a key selling point. Lille finished third in Ligue 1 last season and secured automatic Champions League group-stage qualification.

Driessen hails Zechiël’s dynamism as Feyenoord weigh Lille offer

FR12 Feyenoord now seriously considers the midfielder’s departure. Zechiël’s return to De Kuip follows a standout loan spell at FC Utrecht, where he scored ten goals and provided ten assists. His performances have drawn interest from several foreign clubs, but Lille currently stands as the most concrete suitor. It remains unclear whether the clubs are close to agreeing a transfer fee. Negotiations between Feyenoord and Lille are still ongoing. Zechiël is under contract at Feyenoord for two more years, yet his sporting future at the club is not yet defined. The Rotterdam midfield already features Oussama Targhalline, Jakub Moder, In-beom Hwang, Sem Steijn, Charles Vanhoutte, Luciano Valente, Tobias van den Elshout and Thijs Kraaijeveld. Ramiz Zerrouki and Calvin Stengs have also returned from loan spells at FC Twente and Pisa FC respectively. FR12’s update signals a turning point in Zechiël’s career path, with Lille’s Champions League ambitions creating a compelling alternative to life in Rotterdam.