Harrie Kuster
 Kuster with Telstar in 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 September 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Zwolle, Netherlands | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Telstar | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2021 | WVF | ||
| 2021–2024 | Twente | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2026 | Twente | 2 | (0) |
| 2025–2026 | → RKC Waalwijk (loan) | 34 | (10) |
| 2026– | Telstar | 9 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11:54, 14 November 2026 (UTC) | |||
Harrie Kuster (born 11 September 2005) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club Telstar.
Born in Zwolle, Kuster joined the FC Twente academy from local amateur club WVF in 2021. He made two brief substitute appearances for Twente's first team, before spending a season on loan at RKC Waalwijk in the Eerste Divisie where he won a regular place and helped the club reach the promotion play-offs. He joined Eredivisie side Telstar on a permanent deal in August 2026.
Early life
Kuster was born in Zwolle on 11 September 2005. He began playing football as a young boy at age six at the local amateur club WVF. His home-town club, PEC Zwolle, did not consider him good enough for their academy. In 2021, aged 15, he joined the joint academy of FC Twente and Heracles after a short trial. He started out in the under-18 side.
Club career
Twente
Kuster progressed quickly through the academy. Towards the end of his second season there, he began training with the first team. In January 2024, he travelled with the senior squad to their winter training camp in Spain. On 23 May 2024, he signed his first professional contract, running until mid-2026. Technical director Arnold Bruggink said Kuster had earned the deal "entirely on his own".
Five months later, on 27 October 2024, Kuster made his first-team debut. He replaced Sem Steijn in the 84th minute of a 5–0 home win over Heracles Almelo. The crowd sang his name as soon as he came on. Supporters then chanted "Alle ballen op Harrie", Dutch for "every ball to Harrie", with each of his touches. Despite playing only the closing minutes, he was named man of the match. Asked afterwards about the reception, he suggested it was probably down to his unusual name. The debut was one of only two short substitute appearances he made for Twente.
RKC Waalwijk (loan)
On 30 June 2025, Kuster extended his contract with Twente until mid-2027. On the same day he joined Eerste Divisie club RKC Waalwijk on a season-long loan, with no option to buy. In Waalwijk he was reunited with head coach Sander Duits, who knew him from his time as an assistant coach at Twente.
The loan began poorly. Kuster lost his place early in the season and later admitted that he had perhaps expected games to come too easily at RKC. He won back a starting role towards the end of 2025 and kept it for the rest of the campaign. Duits first used him in central midfield, then moved him further forward as an attacking midfielder or striker. Kuster later credited the striker Michiel Kramer with acting as a mentor to him at the club.
The move forward paid off in the spring of 2026. Mostly in March and April, Kuster scored in seven consecutive matches, a run in which RKC lost only once. The seventh goal came in a 5–0 home win over FC Emmen on 10 April. "Scoring every week, that's what I do," he said after the match. A week later, he was named Talent of the Period for the fourth period of the Eerste Divisie season. The streak ended against ADO Den Haag. He finished the 2025–26 season with ten league goals.
RKC reached the promotion play-offs and beat Roda JC on penalties in the first round. Their run ended in the next round against Willem II. In the final seconds of the second leg, Kuster missed a chance that would have forced extra time. He returned to Twente at the end of the season, saying he was coming back "a better and more mature player".
Telstar
Kuster's return to Twente was brief. On 4 August 2026, he joined Eredivisie club Telstar on a three-year contract, with an option for a further season. Technical manager Peter Hofstede described him as a talented young player signed with the longer term in mind.
Style of play
Kuster played as a controlling midfielder in youth football. He has described his best position as a mix between a number eight and a number ten. RKC Waalwijk manager Sander Duits called him a natural footballer whose game was built on technique and insight. He said Kuster had made huge strides in defending, transitions and tempo during his loan.
Career statistics
- As of match played 7 November 2026
| Club | Season | League | KNVB Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Twente | 2024–25 | Eredivisie | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| RKC Waalwijk (loan) | 2025–26 | Eerste Divisie | 34 | 10 | 3 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 41 | 10 | |
| Telstar | 2026–27 | Eredivisie | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 42 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 50 | 10 | ||
- ↑ Appearances in Eerste Divisie play-offs
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Heldenontvangst verrast FC Twente-debutant: 'Bijzondere naam, denk ik'" [Hero's welcome surprises FC Twente debutant: 'An unusual name, I think']. Voetbal International (in Dutch). 28 October 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- ↑ "Harrie Kuster". Eredivisie (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Harrie Kuster tekent contract bij FC Twente" [Harrie Kuster signs contract with FC Twente]. FC Twente (in Dutch). 23 May 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- 1 2 ten Voorde, Leon (2 January 2024). "FC Twente neemt Lucas, Harrie, Jort en Benjamin mee naar Spanje: veel Hollandser gaat het niet worden" [FC Twente take Lucas, Harrie, Jort and Benjamin to Spain: it does not get much more Dutch]. Tubantia (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- ↑ "Zwollenaar Harrie Kuster naar Telstar" [Zwolle native Harrie Kuster joins Telstar]. De Swollenaer (in Dutch). 4 August 2026. Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- ↑ "Knullig eigen doelpunt Benita leidt klinkende winst FC Twente in tegen Heracles" [Clumsy Benita own goal sets up resounding FC Twente win over Heracles] (in Dutch). NOS. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- 1 2 Pus, Milton (8 September 2026). "Telstar-speler Kuster komt oude teamgenoten tegen bij Twente: "Zal straks wel even appen"" [Telstar player Kuster faces former teammates at Twente: "I'll send them a message later"]. NH Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- ↑ "Harrie Kuster op huurbasis naar RKC Waalwijk" [Harrie Kuster joins RKC Waalwijk on loan]. FC Twente (in Dutch). 30 June 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- 1 2 3 "'Rasvoetballer' snel terug bij FC Twente: 'Ik denk echt dat hij kan gaan aanhaken'" ['Natural footballer' soon back at FC Twente: 'I really think he can keep up']. Voetbalprimeur (in Dutch). 13 April 2026. Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Teunissen, Lars (26 May 2026). "Kuster keert met volle rugzak terug bij FC Twente: 'Ik ben volwassen geworden'" [Kuster returns to FC Twente with a full backpack: 'I have grown up']. Voetbalprimeur (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- 1 2 "Telstar neemt talentvolle Kuster over van Twente" [Telstar sign talented Kuster from Twente]. Voetbal International (in Dutch). 4 August 2026. Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- ↑ "Kuster scoort voor zevende keer op rij voor RKC: "Het begint ondertussen normaal te worden"" [Kuster scores for the seventh time in a row for RKC: "It is starting to become normal"] (in Dutch). ESPN. 10 April 2026. Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- ↑ "Kilo verkozen tot Speler van de Periode, dubbelslag Vitesse bij Bronzen Schilden" [Kilo voted Player of the Period, double for Vitesse at Bronze Shields] (in Dutch). ESPN. 17 April 2026. Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- ↑ "RKC na strafschoppen door in play-offs, Roda JC blijft in eerste divisie" [RKC through in play-offs on penalties, Roda JC stay in the Eerste Divisie] (in Dutch). NOS. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- ↑ Kramer, David (9 May 2026). "Promotie lonkt voor Willem II na winst op RKC met emotioneel doelpunt in Tilburg" [Promotion beckons for Willem II after win over RKC with emotional goal in Tilburg]. Omroep Brabant (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 November 2026.
- 1 2 "Telstar versterkt zich met Harrie Kuster" [Telstar strengthen squad with Harrie Kuster]. Telstar (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 November 2026.
External links
- Harrie Kuster at Eredivisie.nl (in Dutch)