Star CPL Defender Daan Klomp Signs In Belgium

Having left Canada to pursue an opportunity elsewhere, Dutch defender Daan Klomp has put pen to paper with Belgian second division side RAAL La Louviere.

The 26-year-old defender leaves a sturdy imprint on Canada’s top flight, winning the league with Cavalry after claiming back-to-back defender of the year awards whilst also picking up the league’s MVP award in 2023.

While Cavalry had made a strong effort to retain the defender, he returned to his former side NAC Breda to train this offseason whilst pursuing a move outside of Canada. Following a training stint with A-League powerhouse Adelaide United, he now puts pen to paper with Belgian side RAAL La Louviere instead.

Klomp’s new side rest in the Challenger Pro League, Belgium’s second tier, having earned promotion following the 2023-2024 season and transitioning to a professional side. Incredibly, they’ve proven to be one of the division’s stronger clubs at the moment, currently finding themselves in the midst of a promotion battle to Belgium’s top tier.

By chance, that’s also the club that Beni Badibanga played for before his move to the Canadian Premier League. Without a doubt, Klomp is expected to prove a sizable presence in La Louviere. His contract with RAAL runs through to June 2026.

The defender’s spell in Calgary saw him make 121 appearances overall under head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr, where he was a fast and physical presence on a tightknit backline who also proved potent at the other end, racking up some 17 goals and five assists for Cavalry.

The defender had accrued Major League Soccer interest while with Cavalry, but a reportedly hefty asking price ultimately stopped any potential moves from taking shape at the time.

This isn’t the first time a star Canadian Premier League player has secured a move to Belgium, with Tristan Borges having once been sold to Oud-Heverlee Leuven following an award-winning season of his own in 2019.

Header Image Photo Credit: John Jacques