Jelle Klaasen and Jermaine Wattimena Secure New Deals as Darts' Autumn 'Transfer Window' Heats Up

The autumn run-in is where darts seasons are made or broken, but before a single arrow is thrown in Prague this weekend, the real action has been happening off the board. The sport's late-summer 'transfer window' has seen major moves as players scramble to secure the management and equipment backing necessary to survive the grueling winter schedule.

On September 3, 2026, former BDO World Champion Jelle Klaasen became the latest high-profile name to lock in his future, signing a comprehensive management deal with Mach Darts. The 41-year-old Dutchman, who stunned the darting world by lifting the world title on debut in 2006, is embarking on a calculated rebuild of his career.[1]

Klaasen will work closely with Marco Vrolijk and Ronnie Rickner at Mach Darts, stepping away from the intense pressure of an immediate Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Tour Card return. Instead, the focus is on a tailored, step-by-step programme that accommodates his ongoing battle with dystonia—a neurological movement disorder that causes severe day-to-day performance swings.[1]

“We had a great conversation, and I genuinely feel that the way Mach Darts operates and supports its players is exactly what I need at this point in my career,” Klaasen said following the announcement. He noted that his new team is willing to support him at lower-tier events like the WDF and Modus Super Series, rather than forcing a premature PDC comeback.[1]

Mach Darts shares that long-term vision. Vrolijk expressed pride in bringing a former world champion into their stable, noting that the agency's goals align perfectly with the player's reality. “Internally, we will work closely across several areas to get Jelle back to his strengths,” Vrolijk stated.[1]

Klaasen isn't the only high-profile Dutchman making moves. World number 17 Jermaine Wattimena recently secured a major equipment deal with industry giant Winmau, ending his search for a new supplier after parting ways with German brand Bull's earlier in the summer. The move ends an 11.5-year association with his former sponsor.[2]

“I was looking for something different after 11 and a half years working with Bull's together,” Wattimena explained. “I think it was now time to make a change and go up in the rankings.” The switch places Wattimena in one of the most elite stables in the sport, joining compatriots Michael van Gerwen and Danny Noppert, alongside international stars like Joe Cullen and Simon Whitlock.[2]

Despite the new manufacturer backing, Wattimena was adamant that his technical setup will remain largely untouched. The Dutchman confirmed he will stick to his signature 22-gram barrel weight. “I've played with 22-gram darts for more than 20 years,” he said. “That will never change.”[3]

The arms race among manufacturers has been accelerating all year. Earlier in 2026, Winmau made another massive statement by securing Fallon Sherrock, describing the signing of 'The Queen of the Palace' as the start of a new reign.[4]

Manufacturers are also aggressively locking down the next generation. Earlier this year, L-Style secured a multi-year contract with 12-year-old Tai Anderson—son of two-time world champion Gary Anderson—proving that the scouting networks are looking further down the age brackets than ever before.[5]

These player transactions arrive against a backdrop of surging commercial momentum for the sport. On September 2, access solutions manufacturer Werner confirmed a second year of its partnership with the PDC. The deal retains the naming rights to the Werner Rankings Ladder and ensures the brand's presence at iconic venues like Alexandra Palace and the Blackpool Winter Gardens.[6][7]

The corporate footprint of darts is also expanding beyond traditional arenas. On September 1, Topgolf announced a massive rollout of augmented darts experiences across nearly 100 of its United States venues, partnering with Family Entertainment Group to bring the sport to a wider casual audience.[8]

For the professionals, however, the focus now shifts entirely to the oche. With their boardroom signatures dry and their equipment dialed in, players like Klaasen and Wattimena must now translate that off-board stability into on-board results as the road to the 2027 World Championship begins.