Feyenoord has officially presented Charles Vanhoutte as the first summer signing for the upcoming season. The 27-year-old midfielder joins from French club OGC Nice and has signed a four-year contract at De Kuip. With the signing of the former Belgian international, technical director Dévy Rigaux has made his first acquisition since taking office. The Rotterdammers made an initial bid for the right-footed player last week and soon reached an agreement with OGC Nice. According to reports, Feyenoord will pay a fixed transfer fee of 5.5 million euros to the French club, an amount that can increase by half a million euros through bonuses. On Thursday, Vanhoutte passed his medical examination in Rotterdam with success, after which the transfer could be finalized. According to Rigaux, the defensive midfielder was at the top of the scouting list to provide the selection with more balance. His contract in Rotterdam-Zuid runs until mid-2029. The new signing made the move from Union Saint-Gilloise to Ligue 1 for around six million euros a year ago. In southern France, the ball winner had a mixed football year. Vanhoutte started strong in his foreign adventure, directly providing an assist on his debut and being voted Player of the Month in September by the fans. In the final phase of the competition, however, the controller lost his fixed starting position, although he still made 27 league appearances and played minutes in the Europa League. In Rotterdam-Zuid, the purchase is expected to provide more stability in midfield. Vanhoutte is known for his enormous endurance, intercepting balls, and choosing the simple solution in possession. This makes the former Cercle Brugge player a perfect fit for the profile of a pure number six who must guard the spaces behind the attackers. The arrival of the balance keeper also seems to be directly related to expected changes in the selection. The club management is seriously considering a summer departure of players like In-beom Hwang and Jakub Moder. Before his move to France, Vanhoutte grew into an undisputed fixed value at Union Saint-Gilloise. With this team, the midfielder won the Belgian league title, the national cup, and the Supercup. These performances also earned the player a call-up to the Belgian national team, for which he has now played one international match. With his arrival, Feyenoord has an experienced player who can immediately participate in the preparation. Feyenoord's new signing is an important step towards a successful season. The club from Rotterdam-Zuid hopes to build a stronger selection with the arrival of Vanhoutte. The transfer fee of 5.5 million euros is a significant investment for the club. The arrival of Vanhoutte can have a positive influence on the rest of the selection. The experienced midfielder can play a leading role in the team. Feyenoord's technical director Dévy Rigaux is satisfied with the arrival of Vanhoutte. He sees the midfielder as an important acquisition for the club. The club management is seriously preparing for the new season. The arrival of Vanhoutte is an important step in this preparation. Feyenoord is looking forward to the new season with confidence. The club has a strong squad and is ready to compete at the highest level.