The Netherlands national team will be without star forward Memphis Depay for upcoming friendly matches against Norway and Ecuador, after the player sustained an injury while playing for Corinthians.
Head coach Ronald Koeman announced on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, that Depay is unlikely to join the squad. “[Depay] apped the medical staff, not me. I was sleeping,” Koeman stated, according to Sportnieuws.nl. “It doesn’t look good.”
Depay suffered the injury during a match with Corinthians and immediately contacted the Oranje medical team. Koeman has decided not to call up a replacement for the forward. This absence adds to a growing injury list for the Dutch side, which already includes Frenkie de Jong, Jurriën Timber, Matthijs de Ligt, Robin Roefs, and Justin Kluivert.
Despite the setbacks, Koeman indicated there’s a slim chance Depay could still join the team, even if only for the second match. The coach also confirmed that Emmanuel Emegha will not be joining the squad, while Crysencio Summerville will miss out on his debut. NOS reports that Koeman acknowledged the team is becoming accustomed to dealing with numerous injuries.
With Depay sidelined, Brian Brobbey, Donyell Malen, and Wout Weghorst are expected to lead the attack for the Netherlands. The friendly matches serve as important preparation for the team ahead of upcoming international competitions, and the absence of key players will undoubtedly test the squad’s depth. AD.nl confirmed Koeman’s decision not to call up a replacement.
