HERA United extends contract with Toni Bakker
HERA United and Toni Bakker have reached agreement on a new contract. The midfielder from Haarlem will continue to play for the Amsterdam club in the 2026–2027 season. Bakker came through the ranks at Telstar, where she featured for the U19 side. Her first season at HERA United did not go as planned after injury intervened: she played two halves during pre-season friendly matches against PEC Zwolle and Excelsior, but was unable to return to action after that. Technical Director Mark Coonen: “Toni has had a difficult year, but she is a true young talent with a great deal of potential. We want to give her the time and space to keep developing and to return to her own level after these setbacks. We have every confidence that she will continue to grow in the period ahead and make a valuable contribution to the team.” Bakker herself is eager to get started: “I can’t wait to play my first minutes for Hera United and I’m absolutely determined to help Hera return to the Eredivisie next season!”
HERA United signs Lakeesha Eijken
HERA United has reached an agreement with Lakeesha Eijken on a contract for the 2026–2027 season. The forward joins from Spanish club Elche CF. Eijken was born on 7 July 2001 in Amsterdam and came through the AFC Ajax academy. In 2020 she moved to Belgium to join Club Brugge, before signing for Standard Liège in 2022. She returned to the Netherlands in 2023 with ADO Den Haag, then joined Fortuna Sittard — scoring on her debut — before moving to Spanish side Elche CF in February 2026. Internationally, she has represented the Netherlands at under-17 and under-23 level. Technical Director Mark Coonen: “With Lakeesha we are bringing in a player who combines pace with experience at the highest level. She knows what it takes to perform, brings composure and leadership from her background, and has the explosive quality to unlock matches. That combination makes her a major addition to our squad.” Lakeesha Eijken: “From the very first conversation I had a good feeling about HERA United. The club’s vision appealed to me straight away and I’m looking forward to being part of this ambitious group. […]
HERA United signs Emma Pijnenburg
HERA United has reached an agreement with Emma Pijnenburg on a contract for the 2026–2027 season. The midfielder joins from Wellington Phoenix FC in New Zealand. Pijnenburg was born on 13 September 2004 in Amsterdam and grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. Her football career began at Western Springs AFC before she joined Feyenoord in the winter of 2023. She made 28 appearances for the Rotterdam club in the Eurojackpot Vrouwen Eredivisie. In December 2025, she returned to New Zealand to play for Wellington Phoenix FC, where she scored twice in 17 appearances and helped the club reach the A-League Women final. Internationally, she represents the Football Ferns, the New Zealand national team. Technical Director Mark Coonen: “In a short space of time, Emma has shown on two continents that she adapts effortlessly to different styles of play. She brings the technical foundations and resilience we were looking for, also with her international experience. With Emma in the squad, we strengthen the heart of our midfield.” Emma Pijnenburg: “I […]
HERA United signs goalkeeper Femke Huntjes
HERA United has signed Femke Huntjes as goalkeeper. The 18-year-old from Limburg joins from Belgian side Sporting Hasselt and will be part of the Amsterdam squad from the 2026–2027 season. Huntjes, born on 7 January 2008 in Limburg, began her goalkeeping career with the youth setup at Fortuna Sittard, where she spent two and a half seasons, initially with a dual registration in the boys’ competition at Geleen-Zuid. When Fortuna Sittard discontinued their women’s programme a year ago, and no comparable professional women’s club existed in the region, she moved to Sporting Hasselt, where she played in the Belgian league last season. With her move to HERA United, Huntjes returns to Dutch professional football. Technical Director Mark Coonen on the signing: “With her experience at Fortuna, her development as a goalkeeper, and her ambition to combine her studies in the Amsterdam area with professional football, she is an excellent addition to HERA. At 18, she already brings considerable quality, and we see every opportunity to help her continue to grow at our level.” Huntjes on her decision: “At Telstar, when I […]
HERA United extends contract with Jade Linthorst on her birthday
Amsterdam, 20 June 2026 HERA United and Jade Linthorst have reached agreement on a new contract on her 21st birthday. The forward from Uithoorn will continue to play for the Amsterdam club in the 2026–2027 season. Linthorst began her football career at Legmeervogels in Uithoorn before spending several seasons at Sparta Rotterdam. In February 2026 she made the move to HERA United. She is capable of playing as a striker as well as on either wing. Technical Director Mark Coonen: “Jade is staying at Hera. She is physically strong, thrives in a high-pressing system and has shown real quality despite having her share of bad luck. Now that she can start the new season with a clean slate, I am convinced she has a lot more to show and that she will play an important role for us.” Linthorst looks ahead to the new season: “After the second half of last season, it felt like I had only just got started here. I want to show what I am truly capable of. HERA means more to me than just a […]
HERA United parts ways with head coach Ed Engelkes
HERA United and head coach Ed Engelkes will end their collaboration on 30 June 2026. After fifteen intensive months, the club says goodbye to him with great appreciation. Engelkes was appointed head coach of Telstar Women in February 2025. Following HERA United’s takeover of the licence in September 2025, he continued in his role as […]
HERA United extends contract with Mila Lagcher
HERA United en Mila Lagcher hebben overeenstemming bereikt over een nieuw contract. De 22-jarige aanvaller blijft ook in het seizoen 2026-2027 voor de Amsterdamse club voetballen. Lagcher debuteerde afgelopen seizoen in de openingswedstrijd tegen AZ en kwam vervolgens nog achttien keer in actie. In de thuiswedstrijd tegen sc Heerenveen maakte de Amsterdamse haar eerste doelpunt voor HERA United. Technisch adviseur […]
HERA United signs Gina Maatman
HERA United have reached an agreement with Gina Maatman on a contract for the 2026-2027 season. The midfielder joins from Sparta Rotterdam. Maatman, born on 24 June 2004 in Almere, started playing football at her local club FC Almere. After a season at VV Alkmaar and two seasons at AZ Vrouwen, she made the move to Sparta Rotterdam last season. With the Rotterdam side she faced HERA United in the cup quarter-finals. Technical advisor Mark Coonen: “Gina is a technically gifted midfielder who brings composure and can speed up or control the game when needed. She is comfortable on the ball, thinks ahead and, despite her young age, brings both quality and development potential to our squad thanks to her experience at AZ Alkmaar and Sparta Rotterdam.” Maatman: “I had a good feeling about the club straight away, so I didn’t have to think about it for long. On top of that, Eline Oudejans, my former teammate at Sparta, had nothing but positive things to say, so I would have been crazy not to want to play here. I hope to get a lot of minutes and help the team […]
HERA United signs Yada Huisman
HERA United has added Yada Huisman to the squad. The 18-year-old forward, born on 22 July 2007 in Hoofddorp, signs a one-season contract and joins from Jong Ajax. Huisman joined Ajax at the age of fifteen and was part of Jong Ajax last season. In 2024 she was selected for the Dutch U17 national team. Technical advisor Mark Coonen: “Yada is a player with enormous potential. Despite her young age, she already shows that she has the qualities, the character and the eagerness to learn that fit the ambitions of HERA United. We are signing her not only for what she brings today, but above all for what she can become tomorrow.” Huisman: “I had a good feeling about HERA United straight away. I am still recovering from an injury at the moment, but I really want to contribute to HERA’s return to the Eredivisie, it is going to be an important season. I am fast, technical, I have a good through ball and I am strong in one-on-one duels. My goal is to get back to full fitness as quickly as possible and then win the title.”
HERA United extends contract with Isabel Kopp
HERA United and Isabel Kopp have reached an agreement on a new contract. The defender will remain in Amsterdam for the 2026-2027 season as well. The 24-year-old Kopp made her debut for HERA United in the opening match of last season against AZ. She went on to make eighteen more appearances for the Amsterdam club. Technical advisor Mark Coonen: “Isabel is a player with a true winner’s mentality. That is exactly the kind of person you always want in your team.” “When I came back from the Indonesian national team last week, I made up my mind: I’m staying,” says Kopp. “I’m going to study at the VU and I’m already living in Amsterdam — so the decision was easily made. But the real reason is that I’m convinced HERA United belongs in the Eredivisie. I don’t want to leave the club behind in the Eerste Divisie. I want revenge. And on top of that, HERA offers everything you need as a player.”