Naci Ünüvar

Naci Ünüvar is a 23-year-old Turkish forward currently playing for Heracles in the Dutch Eredivisie. A product of the Ajax academy, he spent several years developing in Amsterdam before moving on to seek regular first-team football, and Heracles has given him a platform to build his senior career in the top flight of Dutch football.

Eight appearances into the 2025/26 Eredivisie season, Ünüvar has contributed one assist across 579 minutes of action, though he is yet to open his goal account for the campaign. His average match rating of 6.89 reflects a player who is contributing steadily without yet producing the decisive moments that would mark a genuine breakthrough season. At 23, he is at an age where consistent output becomes increasingly important, and the pressure to convert his undoubted technical ability into tangible numbers will grow as the season progresses.

Within the Heracles setup, Ünüvar operates as a forward with the creative instincts typical of an Ajax-trained player, comfortable in tight spaces and capable of linking play as well as running in behind. His role appears to blend chance creation with direct attacking intent, though the lack of goals so far suggests he is either being used in a wider or deeper capacity, or is simply enduring the kind of early-season variance that forwards at this level regularly experience. SportSignals' AI analysis engine has tracked Heracles across their opening fixtures, and the team's matches have shown moderate attacking signals, reflecting a side still finding its rhythm.

On the international front, Ünüvar has represented Turkey at youth level and will be hoping strong club form can keep him in contention for future senior consideration. In his next Eredivisie outing, the key thing to observe is whether he can find the final-third involvement that turns assists and near-misses into goals, and whether Heracles deploy him centrally or in a wider role as their tactical shape continues to develop.