Kevin van Veen’s big move didn’t take a genius to predict, says Well star

Bevis Mugabi says it didn’t take a genius to predict that Kevin van Veen was going to earn a big-money move after bagging 29 goals for Motherwell last season.

But the defender will miss the Dutch striker, and not just for his performances.

Van Veen, 32, this week signed a three-year deal at Eerste Divisie side FC Groningen, after Motherwell “reluctantly” accepted a fee that is believed to be around £500,000.

The prolific striker shattered several records during the campaign, including scoring in 11 consecutive top flight games, which set a new standard in the Scottish Premiership, but also at club level.

Moving to Holland wasn’t much of a shock, with Groningen making clear their intentions several weeks before getting their man.

Mugabi says the former Scunthorpe hit man fully deserves everything he has coming from a deal that will almost certainly be a big earner for him.

The defender said: “There were points in the season when we thought ‘he’s going to be away in the summer’.

“I think everybody could see that – it didn’t really take a genius to work that out!

“With the amount of goals he scored in the season it was only going to be a matter of time before he got the move that he deserves.

“Kevin is going to be a huge miss. He was a huge player in our changing room and of course we’re going to miss his performances, his goals, his magical moments, as everyone could see.

“He deserves the move that he’s got, and good for him, because he’s gone back home, which I don’t blame him for.

“I just wish him all the best in the future, because he’s a really top, top guy.

“Kevin had an amazing season and deserves it, wholeheartedly, with the amount of goals that he scored, the performances that he put in, and he really helped us get into a good position towards the end of the season.”

Others have departed and more players will come in, and Mugabi says that’s just part how it goes.

He said: “It’s football, it happens every summer.

“We’ve got quite a few players who have moved on already and I wish them all the best in the future, because they had a good season as well.

“It’s just part and parcel of football – people come, people leave, people get replaced, so it’s just the cycle that we’re in.”

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