KV Mechelen has decided to loan Mauro Lenaerts to Helmond Sport for the season. The 18-year-old striker will gain professional experience in the Dutch league, with the aim of returning stronger to Malinwa.
Why this loan move?
Last season, Lenaerts proved he had outgrown the reserve league with Jong KV Mechelen, scoring twice and providing five assists in eight games. He even made two substitute appearances for the first team during the play-offs. However, KV Mechelen, which finished 6th in the 2025 Jupiler Pro League with 24 points (12W-10D-10L) and a +1 goal difference, believes a regular starting spot is still premature.
How has Lenaerts developed?
Lenaerts first broke through at Lierse, scoring three goals in ten matches. KV Mechelen then signed him, a move that caused controversy at the time. Sportingly, it proved the right decision: at Malinwa, he continued to grow and confirmed his potential.
What’s next?
At Helmond Sport, the Dutch second-tier side and KV Mechelen’s sister club, Lenaerts will now gain minutes at a higher level. The club views this as an investment in the future, similar to past talents like Maksim Kireev and Cedric Van Meirvenne, who joined this summer for approximately one million euros.
