Noah Makanza has left KV Mechelen to complete a transfer to Umm Salal SC. The 21-year-old midfielder made the switch on 2 September.
KV Mechelen currently sits 14th in the Jupiler Pro League with 2 points from four games. The team is yet to win this season and has a recent form of DLDL. The upcoming home fixture against Anderlecht on 11 September offers a chance to improve, a match listed on our fixtures page.
Noah Makanza started the 2026-27 campaign with KV Mechelen but did not make a league appearance. His last outing for the club predated a loan spell. The young player, born in Jette on 14 January 2005, had been registered with the first team since January 2025. He progressed through the KV Mechelen youth system, via the U18s and Jong KVM, before joining the senior setup. His lack of playing time this season made a departure logical.
He spent the previous season on loan at Dutch side Helmond Sport. That loan ended on 30 June, after which he returned to Mechelen. Despite his return, he failed to get minutes under the new manager, paving the way for a permanent exit. The transfer window provided an exit route to Qatar.
The transfer means KV Mechelen sees a youth product leave the squad. No transfer fee was disclosed for the deal. Makanza's last recorded market value was €450,000. His departure creates space in a squad currently struggling for results. The team has scored 5 goals and conceded 9 so far, a goal difference of -4.
The club trails leaders Charleroi by 10 points, underlining the urgency to turn form around. Squad building is an ongoing process, and details on the current team are available on the squad page. The exit of a player who wasn't getting minutes has no immediate on-pitch impact but reshuffles the manager's options.
Noah Makanza is a central midfielder standing 1.77m tall who prefers his right foot. He holds both Belgian and DR Congo nationality. His profile is that of a technically gifted player educated in the KV Mechelen system. His time in the Netherlands with Helmond Sport gave him senior experience, but a breakthrough in the Jupiler Pro League did not materialise.
His new club, Umm Salal SC, plays in the Qatar Stars League 2. The terms of his contract there have not been made public. For Makanza himself, it is a chance to redirect his career in a different competitive landscape.
The focus for KV Mechelen is now squarely on sporting recovery. The next test is the home match against Anderlecht on 11 September. Anderlecht currently sits 10th in the table. It is a key opportunity to secure a first win of the season and get points on the board. Fans can follow the live standings on our standings page.
The team must improve defensive solidity, having let in 9 goals in 4 matches. Every game is now vital to move away from the lower reaches. The transfer of Noah Makanza to Qatar is complete, and KV Mechelen moves on with preparations for the visit of Anderlecht.
