Sparta Rotterdam are moving to the front of the queue for Isaac Babadi, with the PSV midfielder set for a loan switch to Het Kasteel on Deadline Day, according to Eindhovens Dagblad.
The 21-year-old has been stuck on the fringes at the Philips Stadion, watching Peter Bosz’s side surge on without him. PSV have now opened the door, giving Babadi the green light to leave in search of minutes he cannot find in Eindhoven.
Earlier this week, Voetbal International revealed that both Fortuna Sittard and Sparta had made their move. Fortuna asked the question. Sparta look ready to deliver the answer.
The Rotterdam club are expected to win the race and bring Babadi in on loan for the rest of the season. The deal stands alone and is not part of the recent transfer that saw Ayoni Santos move from Sparta to PSV, underlining how keen both clubs are to separate the two negotiations.
Sparta will not take on Babadi’s full salary, but they will shoulder part of his wages to get the deal over the line. The final details are being tied up, with an official announcement anticipated later on Deadline Day.
Babadi remains a long-term asset for PSV. His contract runs until mid-2028, and he has already collected 35 official first-team appearances, scoring three goals and adding one assist.
Those numbers hint at potential, but they also tell a story of a career that has yet to fully ignite at the top level.
Right now, he barely figures in Bosz’s plans. His last appearance for PSV’s first team came back in May of last year, a reminder of how quickly the landscape can shift for a young midfielder in a title-chasing squad.
The lack of recent action is partly explained by his spell away from Eindhoven. Babadi spent last season on loan at Royal Antwerp FC, where he featured 21 times in official matches. It was a valuable education in a different environment, but it has not yet translated into a meaningful role back at PSV.
Sparta now offer something PSV cannot: a realistic route to regular Eredivisie football. For a 21-year-old under contract until 2028, this move is less an exit and more a test. Can Babadi turn promise into presence in Rotterdam?
