Belgium national team coach Mark van Bommel has shown interest in KAA Gent talent Tibe De Vlieger. This emerged from a conversation with Buffaloes boss Rik De Mil, as reported by Voetbalkrant.com this week. De Mil confirmed the brief contact and praised his young midfielder, who is contributing significantly to Gent's flawless start to the season.
KAA Gent currently leads the Jupiler Pro League unbeaten, having taken a perfect fifteen points from five matches. They have scored ten goals and conceded only two, giving them a two-point cushion over Union Saint-Gilloise. This strong form provides the perfect stage for emerging talents like De Vlieger.
Why is Van Bommel asking about De Vlieger?
Tibe De Vlieger is a 20-year-old graduate of KAA Gent's own youth academy. He broke through this season with a goal and an assist in the win over Cercle Brugge and has become a regular in coach De Mil's midfield. His performances have not gone unnoticed. "Tibe De Vlieger is an incredible talent," De Mil told Voetbalkrant.com. The manager added, "He will go very far in his career." De Mil also stressed that De Vlieger remains a work in progress with room for improvement, but his occasional absence from the starting eleven is sometimes due to the heavy fixture load, not necessarily the form of others.
What does the current Gent squad look like?
KAA Gent's successes are not down to one player alone. Alongside De Vlieger, 19-year-old Panamanian forward Josué Vergara has impressed, netting three times in all competitions this season. At the back, Christian Burgess and newcomer Mouhamed Ngom have formed a solid central defensive partnership, with Burgess growing into a true leader. The full squad overview is available on our squad page. The only currently sidelined player is Hyllarion Goore.
What are the implications for the coming weeks?
The timing of Van Bommel's interest is notable. KAA Gent faces a busy schedule, having qualified for the Conference League League Phase and securing an important 2-1 victory over Club Brugge. The immediate focus is on the away match against KRC Genk, who are seventh in the table, on September 13th. The current standings and the complete fixtures schedule highlight the challenges ahead. A potential call-up for De Vlieger would be a crowning achievement for the club and confirmation of their strong youth development. KAA Gent's next fixture is away to Genk on September 13, 2026.
