Tonny Vilhena Set for Eredivisie Return with Willem II

Tonny Vilhena is on the verge of a return to the Eredivisie, with newly promoted Willem II closing in on the experienced midfielder.

According to VI, the 31-year-old is set to join the Tilburg club from Panathinaikos, ending a stop-start spell in Greece where he featured only three times last season. For Willem II, fresh up from the second tier and bracing for a survival fight, this is a statement move: proven Dutch top-flight quality in the heart of midfield.

From Feyenoord prodigy to seasoned traveller

Vilhena’s name still rings loud in Rotterdam. A product of Feyenoord’s academy, he broke through as a teenager and went on to make 258 appearances for the club, scoring 41 goals. He was part of the core that dragged Feyenoord back into contention, a midfielder who mixed aggression with timing in the box.

In 2019, he swapped De Kuip for a new adventure in Russia with Krasnodar. Over several seasons there, he played 79 games and scored nine goals, establishing himself as a reliable presence in a very different footballing landscape.

January 2022 brought another shift. Vilhena moved to Spain, joining Espanyol on loan. The deal became permanent that summer, adding La Liga to a CV that already spanned multiple styles and leagues.

Loans, detours, and a way back home

His journey didn’t settle there. After a season on loan at Salernitana in Italy, Vilhena signed for Panathinaikos in the summer of 2023 and clocked up 44 games for the Greek side. It looked like a stable chapter.

Then came another twist. For the 2024/2025 campaign he was loaned to Turkish club Alanyaspor for six months, where he made 15 appearances and scored twice. On his return to Athens, Panathinaikos no longer had a place for him. A surplus name on a crowded teamsheet.

That opened the door.

Now Willem II, back in the Eredivisie and determined not to slip straight down again, are ready to hand him the keys to their midfield. For Vilhena, it is more than just another move. It is a route back to Dutch football, back to the league where his story began – and a chance to prove he can still shape games at the highest domestic level.