Dutch Striker With a Nose for Goal Touches Down at Eastleigh on Short-Term Deal
A 33-year-old striker who left the Netherlands for English football over a decade ago has just become Matt Gray's latest attacking weapon.
Spitfires Land Experienced Striker
Eastleigh FC have confirmed the signing of striker Manny Duku, who joins the Spitfires on a short-term deal after a busy 2025/26 National League campaign that took him from Tamworth to Rochdale. The 33-year-old brings goals, graft, and a well-travelled CV to Matt Gray's squad. And if his first impressions are anything to go by, he's already won over the people around him.
Duku started the 2025/26 season at Tamworth, where he played 25 league games and contributed six goals and two assists for the Lambs. He later moved on to Rochdale before the Spitfires came calling. For a striker in his thirties, that kind of output across a tough National League campaign is no small thing.
A Man Who Knows This Level
This isn't Duku's first rodeo at the National League level — not by a long shot. The Dutch-born forward has also represented York City, Wealdstone, and Solihull Moors, giving him a depth of experience that Eastleigh's coaching staff will be banking on from day one.
His journey to English football began back in 2015, when he made the move from the Netherlands to join Chesham United. Born and raised in Holland, Duku built his football foundations there before crossing the Channel to carve out a career in the non-league and semi-professional game. Over a decade later, he's still going — and still scoring.
That kind of longevity doesn't happen by accident, and Gray will be hoping the veteran striker still has goals left in those boots.
What Duku Said
On joining the club, Duku kept it warm and simple. "The place looks amazing and the people have been unbelievable," he said — the kind of quote that suggests he's settled in quickly and feels the right atmosphere around him.
It's a short sentence, but it speaks volumes. Players don't say things like that unless there's something worth saying it about.
What Happens Next
With Duku arriving on a short-term deal, there's naturally a question mark over how long this partnership lasts — and whether a strong run of form might convince the club to offer something more permanent. Eastleigh will be hoping he hits the ground running in the National League, providing the cutting edge Gray's side need up front.
For now, Spitfires fans have a new name to chant — and a striker with a proven record at this level to get excited about. All eyes will be on Duku's debut to see whether he can pick up exactly where he left off.
Source: Manny Duku signs for Eastleigh