Dender have announced the signing of experienced Iranian international Alireza Jahanbakhsh on a free transfer. The 32-year-old has been out of contract since leaving Eredivisie side SC Heerenveen in the summer. Dender will hope that the former Brighton and Feyenoord winger will help them finally win a game. The club are currently bottom of the Pro League with no wins from their opening 13 games.

Jahanbakhsh joined NEC Nijmigen in the Eredivisie back in 2013 and spent two seasons with the club before moving to AZ Alkmaar. After a productive 2016/2017 season, the then young Iranian winger really came to life during the 2017/2018 campaign. In 39 games for AZ the winger scored 22 goals and provided 15 assists. This saw him end the season as the top scorer in the Eredivisie. As a result, Jahanbakhsh earned a big money move to Brighton in the Premier League. Unfortunately, the Iranian international struggled to replicate the form he had shown in the Eredivisie while at Brighton. In three seasons with the side he played 61 times and scored just four goals.

Jahanbakhsh left Brighton in 2021 to return to Dutch football with Feyenoord. He rediscovered his previous form with two decent seasons, leaving the club in 2024 after 106 appearances, 17 goals and 15 assists. Last season the former Brighton winger played for Heerenveen. Injuries curtailed his impact somewhat, and he left the side after 20 appearances, three goals and three assists.

Jahanbakhsh should certainly bring some quality and experience to the struggling Dender side. Whether it will be enough to turn their season around remains to be seen.