Luke le Roux has become only the third South African to actively playing in one of Europe’s major leagues after moving on Wednesday from Varberg in Sweden to the Dutch top flight club FC Volendam.
He joins Lyle Foster, who is at Burnley in the English Premier League, and Portugal-based Kobamelo Kodisang, who is at Moreierense.
Le Roux moves after three and a half seasons in Sweden, having made 99 appearances for the Swedish club, who he also previously captained.
He has signed a three-year deal.
The 23-year Bafana Bafana midfielder, who has five caps, makes the move a week before the end of the transfer window but ahead of Volendam’s next Dutch league encounter against Twente on September 3
Le Roux moved to Varberg from SuperSport United in 2000, without playing a game in the Premier Soccer League but was immediately thurst into competition in Sweden, becomig a regular along with the like of compatriots Keenan Ayer, Tashreeq Matthews and Ryan Moon.
The other three have since left the club but Le Roux remained at Varberg, although with the club precariously placed in the Swedish league was keen to get away to a bigger league.
In the Dutch competition he will find himself on a bigger stage, with the transfer of players from Dutch clubs to the ‘big five’ leagues of Europe worth 720-million euros over the past five years.
“Luke is the type of player we have been looking for a long time to complement our midfield,” Volendam’s technical director Jasper van Leeuwen told the club’s website.
“He primarily plays from control, but also chooses his moments to get involved in the attack. Luke physically holds his own, has a lot of dynamics, is skilled with the ball and has a good understanding of the game. The best summary is an all-round and box-to-box midfielder.
“Luke has gradually developed into an excellent player in Sweden, who is now also an international player for his country. The fact that he is now coming to Volendam is really an injection of quality for our team.
Le Roux has five caps for South Africa and has been called up for the upcoming friendlies against Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.