Ilan Van Wilder and Team DSM have agreed to terminate the player's contract with Patrick Lefebvre's Deceuninck Quickstep with immediate effect after the two sides reached an agreement on a transfer deal. Van Wilder and Team DSM were in the midst of a contractual dispute as the player attempted to free himself from the team despite having a contract that runs through 2022.

According to Cyclingnews, an agreement was eventually reached, a transfer, and financial terms were agreed upon, leaving Van Wilder free to connect with the Belgian team for next season.

The 21-year-old Belgian will turn pro with Team DSM in 2020 and has signed a three-year contract after a rapid rise through the ranks. He finished third in the 2019 Tour de l'Avenir and looked set for a promising career with the German-registered team.

However, he became increasingly dissatisfied with the team in 2021 and expressed his desire to leave early, especially when he was left out of this year's Vuelta a España. The team initially stood in Van Wilder's way when he and his agent publicly sought to terminate his contract, and a trial date was set for November, but was dramatically canceled when rumors circulated that a compromise had been agreed upon.

"It is unacceptable for the riders to try to force the cancellation of the contract by public statements or by involving the courts. We were open to the possibility of a transfer in the proper manner and on the proper grounds. It is good that Iran and his agent allowed both teams to make the transfer happen in the right way. We wish Iran and Dečuninck-Quickstep all the best," Ivan Spekenbrink, CEO of Team DSM, said in a statement sent to the media. Lefebvre also issued a statement on behalf of the team: "We are delighted to have signed Iran. We are confident that Iran will progress in our midst and bring something to the team. We believe that Ilan will add value to our GC ambitions and after good discussions with Team DSM, we are pleased to welcome him to the team."[9

Van Wilder became the latest in a long line of players who have broken their contracts with DSM and moved on to other teams. Marcel Kittel started the trend with his move to Etixx Quickstep, while Warren Barguil moved to Fortuñeo Oskalo (now Arkea Samsic) in 2018.

Edward Theuns returned after a brief stint at Trek Segafredo, and Tom Dumoulin broke his contract two years early to sign with rival Jumbo Visma. Michael Matthews returned to Team Bike Exchange with one year left on his contract, and Marc Hirsch settled with the team late last year.