Xavi’s First Netherlands Squad: No Memphis Depay, Youth Movement

Xavi’s Oranje revolution has its first brutal headline: no Memphis Depay.

The new Netherlands boss has wasted no time in drawing a hard line, cutting one of the country’s biggest modern stars from his first squad. Memphis, still hunting the all‑time scoring record for the national team, has been told his current level is not enough. Reputation no longer buys a ticket.

The forward’s struggles in Brazil with Corinthians – still waiting for his first goal there – have clearly counted against him. Xavi has nailed his colours to the mast early: match fitness and club form trump past glory. It’s a sharp break from the Ronald Koeman era and a message that echoes through the entire dressing room. No one is untouchable now.

Big names out, new core forming

Memphis is the headline omission, but he is not alone. Marten de Roon and Wout Weghorst have also been left out, underlining the shift away from the old guard. This is not a gentle evolution; it’s a clean cut.

Injuries have shaped parts of the list as well. Frenkie de Jong is still sidelined with the knee problem he picked up at the World Cup, delaying a reunion with his former Barcelona coach. Mats Wieffer is also missing through injury, while Stefan de Vrij’s international story looks close to its final chapter after his move to Greece.

There is, however, a significant boost at the back. Jurrien Timber returns after a long spell out with a serious knee injury that cost him the World Cup. His comeback gives Xavi another high‑level option in defence and fits the broader theme: fresh legs, high intensity, technical security.

Youth takes centre stage

If the cuts are ruthless, the call‑ups are bold.

Ruben van Bommel is one of the standout new faces. The PSV Eindhoven winger, son of former Oranje midfielder Mark van Bommel, has forced his way in with a blistering start to the season. Fresh from a cruciate ligament injury, he has already produced two goals and two assists in league play. It’s the kind of form that’s impossible to ignore, and Xavi hasn’t tried to.

Gjivai Zechiel is another beneficiary of this reset. The Feyenoord midfielder has become a regular starter in Rotterdam and added goals to his game, hitting five already this season. His blend of technique and penalty-box instinct fits neatly with what Xavi demands from his midfield line. This is not a token youth movement; it’s a tactical one.

Veerman’s way back

Perhaps the most intriguing name on the list is Joey Veerman.

Not long ago, the Borussia Dortmund playmaker looked finished at international level. His poor display against Austria at Euro 2024 and the storm that followed in the Dutch media over his tactical suitability under Koeman left him frozen out and heavily questioned.

Now, after a fresh start in the Bundesliga, he has been handed a way back. Xavi clearly believes the 27‑year‑old can still shape games at the top level. Veerman’s ability to break lines and unlock defences from deep could be central to a system that demands high technical quality in midfield. If this Oranje is going to dominate the ball and dictate tempo, players like him become vital.

Van Dijk stays at the helm

Amid all the change, one pillar remains.

Virgil van Dijk had openly suggested he might walk away from international football after the painful World Cup exit to Morocco. Those doubts have been parked. Following private talks with Xavi in August, the Liverpool defender has committed to carry on as captain.

He will anchor a back line that includes Premier League standouts Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke, giving the new coach a strong, modern defensive core: quick, aggressive, comfortable on the ball.

Xavi has also shown he will judge players on performance rather than destination. Unlike some national-team bosses, he has not closed the door on those who move to the Middle East. Tijjani Reijnders and Crysencio Summerville both keep their places despite recent transfers to the Saudi Pro League, a clear sign that the new regime will track form, not postal codes.

Memphis out, youth in, standards raised, captain convinced to stay. Xavi’s first squad is not a gentle introduction; it’s a statement. The real question now is simple: can this new, unforgiving Oranje turn bold selection into real trophies?