Valletta sign former Ħamrun Spartans striker Stijn Meijer

Valletta have completed a second major signing this week as they secure the services of Dutch striker Stijn Meijer.

Earlier this week, Valletta announced the signing of Portuguese forward Diogo Tavares, formerly of Żabbar SP.

On Wednesday evening, it was the turn of Meijer, who arrives to the Capital club after starting the season with champions Ħamrun Spartans and helped them qualify to the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League.

“Valletta Football Club welcomes Stijn Meijer – a pure central forward who brings presence, movement and purpose to the final third,” Valletta said in a statement.ż

“Sharp off the ball, strong in link-up play and always alive inside the box, Stijn gives us a new attacking dimension as we push forward together.

“Locked in. Hungry. Ready for #TheNextStep.”

The Dutchman struggled for regular football at the Spartans as he was not one of the overseas players that was registered for the Malta Premier League due to the quota of non-homegrown players each club can have.

With Ħamrun, Meijer only played in their European journey and only managed six appearances, all of them coming from the bench.

Meijer came through the youth ranks of Utrecht, Twente and Willem II.

At the start of his senior career, Meijer was on the books of Excelsior and FC Dordrecht before heading to Germany in 2023 to join SC Verl for a six-month loan spell.

In December 2023, he moved tothe Middle East to play for Qatari side Al Shanania before returning to European football the following year and join FC Universita Craiova.