FC Groningen has exercised the buyout option for midfielder Travis Hernes and signed him permanently until mid-2030. The 20-year-old Norwegian played for the club on loan last season. Hernes made the move to Groningen in September 2025 and has since played 11 times for the FC, including three as a starter. The Norwegian was able to present himself more clearly after a settling-in period, particularly after the winter break. He had a starting spot in the last official match of last season in the semifinals of the playoffs for European football against Ajax. The international from Jong Noorwegen showed last season that he could handle multiple positions on the midfield of FC Groningen. Hernes was born on November 4, 2005, and has both Norwegian and Jamaican nationality. The midfielder started playing football in Norway and ended up in the youth academy of Shrewsbury Town FC after moving to England. He made his debut in the first team at the age of 16 in the 2022/2023 season. He then moved to Premier League club Newcastle United in 2023. In North England, the Norwegian played mostly in the Under-21 team. He was also loaned out to Aalborg in Denmark for half a year. The young international continues his career now definitively at FC Groningen. Hernes will rejoin the first team at the end of this month under the guidance of head coach Dick Lukkien to prepare for the new VriendenLoterij Eredivisie season.