Dutch midfielder Branco van den Boomen is poised to return to Angers SCO on a permanent basis after reportedly terminating his contract with Ajax Amsterdam. According to journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter, the 30-year-old is expected to join the French side as a free agent, with reports suggesting he will sign a three-year contract running until 2029.
Van den Boomen spent the second half of the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Angers, where he impressed manager Alexandre Dujeux by starting 14 of the 15 matches in which he featured. He contributed one assist during that temporary spell, having struggled to secure regular minutes at his parent club.
Injury troubles end Ajax return
The Veldhoven-born playmaker originally rejoined Ajax in the summer of 2023 following a highly productive stint at Toulouse FC, where he recorded 23 goals and 45 assists across 121 appearances in France. Despite signing a contract that was due to run until 2027, his return to the club where he developed as a youth player was severely disrupted by a series of injuries.
These fitness setbacks kept van den Boomen sidelined for weeks at a time and prevented him from establishing himself as a first-team regular at the Johan Cruyff Arena. The lack of consistent playing time ultimately led to the winter loan move to Angers, where he finally regained his rhythm and demonstrated his creative capabilities.
Free transfer expected
Having secured an early release from his remaining Ajax obligations, van den Boomen is now available to complete a free transfer to Angers. The anticipated move would mark his second spell at the French club within a calendar year, offering him the opportunity to build upon the promising foundations laid during his initial loan period.
The midfielder will hope to avoid the injury troubles that curtailed his impact in the Netherlands as he seeks to become a central figure in Dujeux’s squad for the coming seasons. The reported three-year commitment from Angers suggests the club views him as a long-term solution in their midfield.