Union SG eyes Denzel De Roeve as Brann stalls the deal

On a rainy afternoon at the Stade Joseph Marien, Union SG scouts study a profile on a tablet: 21‑year‑old Denzel De Roeve, the Belgian right‑wing‑back currently at Norway’s SK Brann, who could return to Belgium this summer, yet Brann refuses to release him.

De Roeve spent his formative years in the youth academy of Club Brugge before moving to its reserve side Club NXT. At Club NXT he amassed 65 appearances without breaking into the first team.

In March 2025 he embarked on a foreign adventure with SK Brann in Norway. Since then he has featured in 58 matches, scoring four goals and providing five assists, and has also gained Europa League experience.

Union SG view him as a profile that combines youth, Belgian nationality and senior experience, fitting their search for a right‑flank player with growth potential. The defender has already earned two caps for the Belgian U21 side.

According to reports from Norway, Union SG has already reached an agreement with De Roeve, but the transfer remains incomplete because SK Brann is unwilling to let their right‑back depart. The Norwegian club argues that losing a regular starter would weaken a squad already struggling in the league.

After twelve matchdays Brann sit in eleventh place, a drop from the previous seasons when they finished twice second and once fourth. The club’s difficult period reduces its incentive to sell a key player.

If Union SG cannot persuade Brann, the Belgian side will need to look elsewhere to reinforce their defensive line, underscoring the challenges Belgian clubs face when targeting players from clubs fighting relegation. The outcome will influence Union’s squad planning ahead of the upcoming campaign.