HERA United has signed Danique Ypema for the 2026-2027 season. The 26-year-old defender joins from Hearts in Scotland, where she was a regular starter last season.
Ypema can play as a centre-back and in the holding midfield role, giving HERA United more flexibility across defence and midfield.
Ypema began her career at sc Heerenveen before spending three seasons at FC Twente, where she won the Dutch league title twice and lifted the KNVB Cup. She also gained UEFA Women’s Champions League experience with Twente. After three seasons at Feyenoord, from 2022 to 2025, she moved to Hearts in Scotland in January 2025. Ypema has also represented the Netherlands at various youth levels, from under-17 to under-21.
Technical Director Mark Coonen: “With Danique we’re bringing in a defender who adds immediate value. Her international experience and the matches she has played in the Champions League show she is used to performing at a high level. Her flexibility also makes her a valuable addition: she can play both as a central defender and in the holding midfield role, which gives us more options in how we build up play.”
Danique Ypema: “I see it as a great challenge to get the most out of this season with HERA. It’s an exciting and challenging project, and the story behind Hera appealed to me too.”