Nathan De Cat
Agent, Salary, Contract, Club and Profile
Belgium €28mm
Key Facts
Date of birth: 19.07.2008
Nationality: Belgium
Current club: TSG Hoffenheim
Position: Central Midfielder / Defensive Midfielder
Height: 1.92m
Current market value: €28mm
Represented by: Stirr Associates
Main agent: Stijn Francis
Reported salary: €1.7m gross per year
Contract expires: 30.06.2031
About
Nathan De Cat is a Belgian central midfielder who plays for TSG Hoffenheim and the Belgium national team. At 1.92m, he combines an imposing physical profile with composure in possession, passing range and strong tactical awareness.
De Cat developed through Anderlecht’s renowned Neerpede academy after joining the club at the age of ten. He first gained professional experience with RSCA Futures before breaking into Anderlecht’s senior team at only 16.
His breakthrough accelerated during the 2025/26 season, when he became one of Anderlecht’s key midfielders. He was named Young Player of the Year at the Belgian Golden Boot awards and was also voted Anderlecht’s Player of the Year by the club’s supporters.
Hoffenheim signed him in July 2026 on a five-year contract. The move placed one of Belgium’s leading teenage midfielders directly into the Bundesliga, where he is continuing his development at senior European level.
Representation
Agency: Stirr Associates
Main representative: Stijn Francis
Agency founder: Stijn Francis
Headquarters: Keerbergen, Belgium
Jurisdiction: Belgium, Benelux and international markets
FIFA licence status: FIFA-licensed agents on staff
Linked with De Cat since: At least July 2025
Also represents: Loïs Openda, Bilal El Khannouss, Bart Verbruggen, Nathan Ngoy and Sebastiaan Bornauw
Related agency page: Stirr Associates
De Cat is represented by Stirr Associates, the Belgian boutique football agency founded by former professional player and lawyer Stijn Francis.
The agency works extensively with Belgian and Dutch talent and has built a strong portfolio across the Bundesliga, Premier League, Serie A and other major European competitions.
Stirr Associates was involved during De Cat’s emergence at Anderlecht and his subsequent transfer to Hoffenheim in the summer of 2026.
Career timeline
2014: Joined KV Mechelen’s youth setup
2016: Continued his development with Act2Prevent Voetbalschool
2018: Joined Anderlecht’s academy at the age of ten
October 2023: Signed his first professional contract with Anderlecht
February 2024: Made his professional debut for RSCA Futures in the Challenger Pro League
2024: Extended his Anderlecht contract until 2027
February 2025: Made his Anderlecht first-team debut against Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Europa League
April 2025: Made his Belgian Pro League debut
May 2025: Scored his first Anderlecht senior goal against Royal Antwerp
2025/26: Established himself as a first-team regular
2025/26: Recorded three goals and five assists across 46 competitive appearances
2026: Named Young Player of the Year at the Belgian Golden Boot awards
2026: Voted Anderlecht Player of the Year by supporters
March 2026: Received his first senior Belgium call-up
March 2026: Made his senior Belgium debut against the United States
July 2026: Joined TSG Hoffenheim
August 2026: Made his competitive Hoffenheim debut
2026/27: Began his first Bundesliga season with Hoffenheim
Transfer history
2018 – Act2Prevent Voetbalschool to Anderlecht academy – Youth transfer
2024 – Anderlecht academy to RSCA Futures – Promoted into professional football
2025 – RSCA Futures to Anderlecht first team – Promoted to the senior squad
2026 – Anderlecht to TSG Hoffenheim – Permanent transfer – Reported fee: approximately €17m guaranteed plus up to €6m in bonuses – Contract until June 2031
De Cat spent eight years within Anderlecht’s academy system before making his senior breakthrough.
His first full season at first-team level transformed his market position. He became a regular starter, won major individual recognition in Belgium and received his first senior international cap.
Hoffenheim secured him despite interest from several major European clubs. The guaranteed transfer fee was reported at around €17m, with achievable bonuses potentially taking the overall package to approximately €23m.
The deal made De Cat one of the most expensive outgoing academy products in Anderlecht’s history.
Playing profile
De Cat is primarily a central or defensive midfielder but also has the physical and tactical profile to operate as a deeper number six or, if required, in central defence.
His height immediately stands out, but his game is not based only on physicality. De Cat is technically composed and comfortable receiving possession from defenders under pressure.
His passing range is one of his strongest attributes. He can circulate possession securely but also looks for progressive vertical passes into attacking midfielders and forwards.
Defensively, his size and reach make him effective in duels and interceptions. He covers central spaces well and is particularly useful protecting the area in front of the centre-backs.
De Cat also shows strong maturity when deciding when to step forward and when to maintain his position. This tactical discipline is unusual for a player of his age.
His combination of height, technical security and senior experience gives him the profile of a modern holding midfielder who can eventually operate at a very high European level.
Key strengths
Progressive passing
Composure in possession
Defensive positioning
Physical presence
Aerial ability
Interceptions
Ball recovery
Tactical intelligence
Press resistance
Passing range
Ability to play as a number six or eight
High long-term potential
