Excelsior Rotterdam has loaned German right-back Eric da Silva Moreira from Nottingham Forest. The club presented the twenty-year-old defender as a new signing on Wednesday, as reported by Voetbal International.
The arrival of Da Silva Moreira strengthens the defensive options for manager Marinus Dijkhuizen. Excelsior currently sits tenth in the Eredivisie with three points from two matches. The team won its first game and lost the second, resulting in an LW form. They have scored five goals and conceded two, giving them a goal difference of plus three. They trail leaders AZ Alkmaar by six points.
Why is Excelsior loaning a new right-back?
The Excelsior squad needed additional width and competition on the right flank. Eric da Silva Moreira arrives from English Premier League side Nottingham Forest, where he recently featured mainly for their under-21 team. The German-born defender of Brazilian descent came through the youth ranks at Bayer Leverkusen before moving to England in 2022. For Excelsior, it's an opportunity to develop a young talent with potential for the remainder of the season. The loan deal runs until the end of the current campaign.
How does he fit into the current squad?
Manager Dijkhuizen can deploy the young defender as a full-back in his customary 4-3-3 system. Da Silva Moreira is known for his pace and ability to get forward on the wing. His presence gives the coach more options, especially with a busy fixture schedule ahead. The current top scorer for Excelsior is N. Naujoks, who has netted twice in one appearance. The team's full statistics are available on our stats page.
What does this mean for the upcoming fixtures?
The first chance for Da Silva Moreira to make his debut is the home match against Sparta Rotterdam on August 29th. Sparta sits seventh in the table, making it an important early-season fixture. Excelsior will aim to take points at home to solidify their mid-table position. The coming weeks are key, and the full schedule can be viewed on our fixtures overview.
The loan signing of Eric da Silva Moreira is a direct response to the needs within the squad. It shows the club remains active in the transfer market to keep the team competitive. With their current league standing and positive goal difference, Excelsior has built a solid foundation. The focus now shifts to preparing for the derby against Sparta, a match that could say a lot about the course of this season. For the latest table, you can consult our standings page.
