From Championship Nerves to Record Setters: PSV’s Journey to Glory

It would be an understatement to assert that PSV commenced the season as the undisputed favourites to clinch the Eredivisie title. The Eindhoven powerhouse entered the campaign fresh from consecutive championship victories, with the latter triumph marked by a remarkable comeback that saw them overcome a significant points deficit to wrest the title from Ajax’s firm grasp.

A Promising Transfer Window

A successful summer transfer period allowed Peter Bosz to retain the majority of his key players in Eindhoven. Ismael Saibari, Joey Veerman, Sergiño Dest, Ivan Perisic, and Ricardo Pepi all remained, with Pepi poised to take over Luuk de Jong’s role as the main striker.

Noteworthy sales, including Malik Tillman (€35M), Noa Lang (€25M), and Johan Bakayoko (€18M), empowered PSV to approach the transfer market with substantial funds, contrasting with rivals Ajax and Feyenoord. Ruben van Bommel’s transfer from AZ and Bayern youth Paul Wanner’s surprising arrival in Eindhoven for a combined fee of €30.8 million bolstered the squad further.

Additional signings included Yarek Gasiorowski from Valencia, Alassane Plea from Borussia Mönchengladbach, Kiliann Sildillia from Freiburg, Dennis Man from Parma, and Matej Kovar, who arrived on loan from Bayer Leverkusen.

A Powerful Start

Following their 2-1 victory over Go Ahead Eagles to claim their 15th Johan Cruyff Shield, PSV kicked off their Eredivisie campaign strongly, winning the first three matches against Sparta (6-1), FC Groningen (2-0), and FC Twente (4-2). However, newly promoted Telstar caused an upset by defeating PSV 2-0, marking the club’s first Eredivisie loss to a promoted side since 1978.

This setback appeared to refocus the team. Post the surprising defeat, PSV went on to remain unbeaten for 18 consecutive league matches. A remarkable 13-match winning streak included a thrilling 3-2 away victory against Feyenoord, contributing to a record-breaking 14 consecutive away wins. Ultimately, they extended this record to 16 straight away wins, heading into 2026 with an 11-point advantage.

The Veerman Saga

After missing out on transfers in previous windows, Joey Veerman enjoyed a stellar first half of the Eredivisie season, notching up eight goals and seven assists. His impressive performance attracted interest from Fenerbahçe, with the Turkish side triggering his release clause.

However, as fate would have it, Veerman decided to remain with PSV, aiming for a third consecutive Eredivisie title. “We will dedicate ourselves to making the second half of the season unforgettable,” Veerman stated.

Alongside Veerman, striker Ricardo Pepi also opted to stay in Eindhoven after PSV turned down multiple offers from Fulham. With the core squad intact, PSV, armed with an 11-point lead at the season’s halfway mark, appeared well-positioned for another league triumph.

Title Race Tension

As rivals Feyenoord and Ajax endured poor starts in 2026, PSV quickly consolidated their lead. Supporters were singing of titles on February 1st, following a resounding 3-0 win over Feyenoord, where PSV raced to a three-goal lead in just 18 minutes. Following the Christmas break, PSV held a commanding 17-point lead that continued to grow.

However, a home draw against NAC Breda (2-2) halted their winning run, and shortly after dismantling Feyenoord, PSV faced another league loss.

FC Volendam, yet another promoted side, continued the unsettling trend by handing PSV a 2-1 defeat, courtesy of an 87th-minute winner from Aurelio Oehlers. Suddenly, PSV appeared far from untouchable.

Despite shaky periods, PSV managed to secure victories against Heerenveen (2-1), Heracles (3-1), and AZ (2-1) in the weeks following their unexpected loss. With a 19-point advantage, the moment came for PSV to seal their 27th Eredivisie title.

However, the Eindhoven side struggled to seize the opportunity, experiencing a sense of championship nerves as they suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to NEC. The pressure intensified a week later, despite Feyenoord’s earlier 1-1 draw with Ajax, which meant the title couldn’t be decided. In a rescheduled away match at Telstar, PSV lost 3-1, becoming the first reigning champions since 1958 to drop three matches to promoted sides in a single season.

The third time proved to be the charm for PSV, as they triumphed 4-3 over FC Utrecht in a dramatic comeback, necessitating that Feyenoord drop points the following day against FC Volendam. Van Persie’s team faltered, drawing 0-0 with the Palingboeren, granting PSV their 27th Eredivisie title.

This championship win marks the earliest title secured in Eredivisie history, surpassing the previous record set by PSV themselves in 1978, when they clinched their seventh league title on April 8th.