The wait is over as the 2026/27 Eredivisie season gets underway, with PSV Eindhoven looking to defend the Dutch title after one of the most dominant league campaigns in recent history.

Peter Bosz’s side finished 19 points clear of Feyenoord last season, posting an outstanding 27 wins, three draws and just four defeats, while scoring an incredible 101 goals. Those numbers explain why PSV enter the new campaign as overwhelming favourites, but both Feyenoord and a rejuvenated Ajax believe they have what it takes to challenge.

PSV start as clear favourites

Pre-season projections give PSV a 60% chance of retaining the Eredivisie title, comfortably ahead of Feyenoord (27%) and Ajax (17%). That gap reflects the dominance PSV displayed throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

Despite winning the league at a canter, the champions were not immune to losing key talent. Midfield star Ismael Saibari completed a blockbuster €50 million move to Bayern Munich following his impressive FIFA World Cup performances, while goalkeeper Joël Drommel joined Twente after his loan spell.

PSV reacted quickly by signing Sven Mijnans from Twente for €13 million, with the midfielder expected to replace Saibari’s creativity. The club also made Matěj Kovář’s move from Bayer Leverkusen permanent for €5 million, ensuring continuity between the posts.

With the rest of their championship-winning squad remaining intact, PSV appear even stronger than their rivals heading into the new season.

Ajax betting on experience

No Dutch giant attracted more attention this summer than Ajax. The Amsterdam club opted for experience rather than youth, completing six high-profile additions in a transfer strategy designed to return them to the top of Dutch football. We covered Ajax’s ambitious recruitment earlier this summer, with the club prioritising proven performers capable of delivering immediate results.

Outgoing transfers, however, also reshaped the squad. Highly-rated youngster Sean Steur joined Newcastle United for €23.5 million, while Chuba Akpom moved to Ipswich Town for €9.3 million. Midfielder Kian Fitz-Jim signed for Torino, Sivert Mannsverk left for Sparta Prague, and veterans Wout Weghorst, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu all departed following the expiration of their contracts.

Ajax still trail PSV in the title projections, but expectations around Amsterdam are considerably higher than they were a year ago.

Feyenoord keep their core together

While Ajax rebuilt and PSV made only targeted additions, Feyenoord quietly enjoyed one of the smartest transfer windows in the league. The Rotterdam club sold several squad players, including Leo Sauer (€15m) to Stuttgart, Hwang In-beom (€4.5m) to Porto, Ramiz Zerrouki (€2.3m) to Twente and goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther to Wolfsburg.

Importantly, however, Feyenoord retained the players who mattered most. Last season’s Eredivisie top scorer Ayase Ueda, who scored 25 league goals, remains the focal point of the attack, while winger Anis Hadj Moussa enters the campaign after recording the club’s highest 7.45 Sofascore Rating in league play.

Feyenoord also strengthened key areas by signing goalkeeper Tjark Ernst, midfielder Charles Vanhoutte, striker Nacho Ferri, and perhaps the bargain of the summer, defender Mika Mármol, who arrived on a free transfer despite holding a €9.1 million Sofascore market value. Keeping the team’s backbone intact while improving squad depth could make Feyenoord PSV’s biggest challenger.

A title race beginning with a blockbuster

The first major clash between the league’s three title contenders arrives early. On 5 September, Ajax host PSV in Amsterdam in what could immediately reveal whether Ajax’s experienced squad is ready to compete with the reigning champions.

Later meetings involving Feyenoord will only add further intrigue to what promises to be another fascinating Eredivisie campaign.

New faces return to the top flight

Three clubs celebrate promotion to the Eredivisie this season.

ADO Den Haag, SC Cambuur and Willem II all secured promotion from the Eerste Divisie and will now look to establish themselves back among the Dutch elite.

Their primary objective will be survival, but newly promoted sides have often surprised in the Eredivisie.

History belongs to Ajax but the present belongs to PSV

Although Ajax remain the Netherlands’ most successful club with 36 Eredivisie titles, it is PSV who enter the new campaign carrying the momentum. They were comfortably the best side in the country last season, possess the league’s highest title probability, and have largely preserved the squad that dominated Dutch football.

Ajax have invested heavily in experience.

Feyenoord have strengthened without sacrificing their stars.

But until someone proves otherwise, PSV remain the team everyone has to beat.