Xavi's Bold Start: No Memphis Depay in Netherlands Squad

Xavi’s Oranje revolution starts with a shock: no Memphis Depay.

The new Netherlands head coach has wasted no time in laying down the law, cutting the country’s joint-second all-time scorer from his first squad and making it clear that reputation will not buy a place in this new cycle. Memphis, still chasing the national team scoring record, is left watching from afar as he struggles to find his feet in Brazil with Corinthians and waits for his first goal there.

For years, Memphis has been the face of the Dutch attack. Under Xavi, that status counts for nothing. Match fitness and club form now sit at the top of the hierarchy, and this first selection feels like a clean break from the Ronald Koeman era: nobody is untouchable.

Big names out, new reality in

Memphis is the headline omission, but he is not alone. Marten de Roon and Wout Weghorst have also been discarded, a trio of veterans abruptly moved to the fringes as Xavi redraws the pecking order.

Injuries add another layer to the reset. Frenkie de Jong is still out with the knee problem he picked up at the World Cup, delaying the anticipated reunion between the midfielder and his former Barcelona coach. Mats Wieffer also misses out through injury, while Stefan de Vrij’s international story looks to be fading quietly after his move to Greece, his name no longer central to the conversation around the back line.

There is, however, a significant boost: Jurrien Timber is back. The defender, who missed the World Cup and a long stretch of action with a serious knee injury, returns to the national setup, a reminder that Xavi is willing to trust players coming off the long road of rehabilitation if their ceiling is high enough.

Youth at the heart of Xavi’s first squad

The real theme of this list is clear: youth and form. Xavi has leaned into the next generation.

Ruben van Bommel’s rise is the most eye-catching. The PSV Eindhoven winger, son of former Oranje midfielder Mark van Bommel, has ridden a blistering start to the season straight into the national team. Fresh from a cruciate ligament injury that could have stalled his career, he has already produced two goals and two assists in league play. That output, combined with his energy and edge, has been enough to convince Xavi he is ready for the step up.

Gjivai Zechiel has forced the issue in a different way. The Feyenoord midfielder has grown into a regular starter and added goals to his game, finding the net five times already this season. His technical profile and sharpness around the box fit neatly with what Xavi typically demands from his midfielders: comfort on the ball, intelligence between the lines, and a threat when arriving late in the area.

Joey Veerman’s second chance

One of the most intriguing calls sits in midfield. Joey Veerman, now at Borussia Dortmund, returns from the cold.

Under Ronald Koeman, Veerman became a lightning rod. A poor display against Austria at Euro 2024 sparked a very public debate in the Dutch media about whether he had the tactical discipline for top-level international football. The fallout was brutal, and his place in the squad evaporated.

Xavi sees it differently. A fresh start in the Bundesliga, where Veerman has been able to reset and show his range as a deep-lying playmaker, has reopened the door. At 27, he is not a prospect; he is a finished article with a specific skill set. His passing from deep, his ability to unlock packed defenses, could be crucial in a system that leans heavily on technically gifted central midfielders to control tempo and create.

If Xavi’s Oranje are to dominate the ball and break down low blocks, Veerman’s revival may not just be a nice story. It might be a necessity.

Van Dijk stays at the helm

Amid all the change, one pillar remains: Virgil van Dijk.

The Liverpool defender had openly suggested he would reflect on his international future after the painful World Cup exit to Morocco, hinting that his time with the national team might be nearing an end. Those doubts have been parked. After private talks with Xavi in August, Van Dijk confirmed he will continue to captain the side.

His presence anchors a defense that includes Premier League names Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke, giving Xavi a core of high-level, high-intensity defenders to build around. With Timber returning and Van Dijk staying, the back line suddenly looks both experienced and athletic.

Xavi has also shown a pragmatic streak when it comes to players moving outside Europe’s traditional power leagues. While some national team coaches have drawn hard lines over transfers to the Middle East, he has not. Tijjani Reijnders and Crysencio Summerville keep their places despite recent moves to the Saudi Pro League, a clear signal that as long as performance and fitness levels hold, the door will not slam shut on those who chase a different career path.

The message from this first squad is unmistakable: play well, stay fit, and you are in. Live on past glories, and you are out. For the Netherlands, and for Memphis Depay watching on from Brazil, the Xavi era has started with a sharp edge — and no room for sentiment.