After just a season-and-a-half with the Eredivisie’s fifth-placed team, he’s already wearing the captain’s armband and attracting interest from clubs across Europe.

Flashscore Portugal collaborated with Flashscore's resident Netherlands expert Paul Winters for an in-depth analysis of the 22-year-old Stije Resink, who's on the verge of reaching a personal agreement with Jose Mourinho's Benfica, with a deal potentially worth up to €10 million on the horizon.

A jack of all trades

It’s no coincidence that the Dutch elite have been keeping a close eye on Stije Resink. Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord have all been impressed by the defensive midfielder, who truly fits the description of a jack-of-all-trades.

He’s also a highly reliable joker, as Resink is one of only four outfield players in the Eredivisie who haven’t missed a single minute of play this season. The 22-year-old joined FC Groningen from Almere City in 2024, but was named captain before the start of his second season with the Pride of the North - a testament to his leadership and attitude.

As a midfielder, Resink drives his team forward, whether carrying the ball or dictating the tempo from the centre. Over 90 minutes, and among Eredivisie midfielders who have played at least 50% of available minutes, Resink ranks sixth in assists from open play (0.26), ninth in passes into the final third (7.84), and sixth among central midfielders in completed dribbles (1.53).

But beyond his confidence in possession, Resink is a defensive rock. The Amsterdam-born midfielder averages 5.79 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, along with 1 interception, 2.4 tackles, 6.68 duels won, and 1.63 aerial duels won.

All his defensive contributions also carry relatively low risk, as Resink commits just 1.1 fouls per game on average and loses possession only 13 times per game while averaging roughly 70 touches.

Without getting too deep into the stats, Resink is a leader who’s growing into his role and has huge potential at just 22 years old. Within Benfica’s squad, he’ll be a strong long-term option alongside Fredrik Aursnes, who is similar to the Dutch talent but offers less defensively and in possession.

Groningen is enjoying its best season in years with Resink leading the team. If you like him now, you'll love him soon enough.

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S. Resink

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