Excelsior lose Calvin Raatsie to FC Dordrecht
Excelsior Rotterdam have lost a key player. Goalkeeper Calvin Raatsie, 24, has signed for FC Dordrecht. The move came as a surprise and leaves Excelsior scrambling to replace him.
## What happened?
FC Dordrecht confirmed on Transfer Tuesday that Raatsie would join the Eerste Divisie side. The 24-year-old leaves Excelsior after spending time as their first-choice goalkeeper. His departure hits Excelsior hard, especially as the club sits 15th in the Eredivisie with zero points after the opening round.
The transfer closed during the final hours of the summer window. Raatsie’s move leaves Excelsior with a gap between the posts. The club has yet to score or concede in the 2026/27 season.
## Why it matters for Excelsior
Raatsie’s exit comes at a critical time. Excelsior opened the season with a loss to FC Utrecht, a match that resumes on 31 January 2027. The club must act fast to fill the void under the posts before the next fixture.
The move shows how quickly the transfer market can shift, even mid-season. For Excelsior, the pressure is on to find a replacement who can step in immediately. The club currently sits 15th in the Eredivisie with zero points, raising the urgency to act.
## What comes next?
Excelsior must now hunt for a new goalkeeper to plug the gap. The club has not issued an official statement on the transfer, but the search is already underway. The coming weeks will decide how Excelsior navigates the rest of the season.
Excelsior currently sit 15th in the Eredivisie with zero points, zero goals scored, and zero conceded. Their next match is away to FC Utrecht on 31 January 2027-a must-win to escape the relegation zone.
