Sem Scheperman

Sem Scheperman is a 23-year-old Dutch defensive midfielder currently playing for Heracles in the Eredivisie. He has established himself as a regular presence in the Heracles engine room this season, making 12 appearances and accumulating 791 minutes across the 2025/26 campaign, with one goal and one assist to his name.

His season has followed a mixed trajectory. A goal in the 1-1 draw with Excelsior in March represented a high point, earning him a match rating of 7.64 from SportSignals' AI analysis engine, and he has carried an overall season rating of 7.0. However, recent weeks have been tougher, with Heracles shipping heavy defeats to AZ Alkmaar (4-0), SC Heerenveen (4-1), and Ajax (3-0), matches in which Scheperman's individual ratings dipped into the mid-sixes. His role in those games shifted from containment to damage limitation, and the results reflect a difficult run for the club rather than a collapse in his personal standards.

Within the Heracles structure, Scheperman operates as the primary screen in front of the back line, tasked with breaking up play and recycling possession in tight spaces. His usage has varied, appearing as a substitute in two of his last five matches, which may point to tactical rotation or a minor fitness consideration rather than a loss of favour. At 23, he is at an age where consistent Eredivisie minutes are valuable for development, and his ability to hold his position under pressure from top-half opposition has been tested thoroughly in recent fixtures.

In Heracles' next outing, it will be worth watching whether Scheperman returns to a starting role and how he manages the transition from defensive pressure to building play, particularly if Heracles look to arrest their recent slide. His positioning and ability to win second balls in midfield will be a key indicator of how settled the team's defensive shape is going forward.