Zechiël Reflects on Lille Move and Staying at Feyenoord

Gjivai Zechiël stood on the brink of a major move this summer. Lille OSC pushed hard, Feyenoord held firm, and the 22-year-old midfielder is now convinced he ended up in the right place.

At the end of August, Lille made multiple attempts to lure him to France. Their final bid climbed to a reported €17 million including bonuses – a figure that underlined just how serious the Ligue 1 side were.

“That was pretty serious,” Zechiël told Voetbal International. “At that moment, it seemed better for me from a sporting point of view. But looking back, I am grateful and happy that I am here, because I am simply doing well here.”

Feyenoord’s hierarchy saw exactly the same thing. They regarded Zechiël as a key piece of the squad and were determined not to lose him so late in the window. The deal stalled, then died. Lille stepped away. Feyenoord doubled down.

Zechiël, meanwhile, settled even deeper into life in Rotterdam.

“I feel at home here, and I am grateful to be out on the pitch here. I am happy that I get to play for this club,” he said. “In the end, you grow into the team, you start to understand your role in the team, but also the staff you are dealing with. That is, of course, also an important part of it. The staff and our style of play suit me very well.”

Once the transfer door closed, Feyenoord moved quickly to secure his future. At the start of September, ESPN reporter Sinclair Bischop revealed that the club had reached a verbal agreement with Zechiël on a contract extension. His current deal already runs until mid-2028, but Feyenoord want to lock him in on improved terms.

“If everything goes well, that should be possible,” the right-footer said about the new agreement.

On the pitch, his response has been emphatic. Zechiël has opened the new season in blistering form: four goals and three assists in Feyenoord’s first six competitive matches. The numbers back up the club’s stance, and they justify Lille’s interest as well.

The move to France never materialised. Instead, Feyenoord kept their midfielder, rewarded him with trust, and are now watching him grow into one of the central figures of their campaign.