With the deal for Donny van de Beek signed and sealed. It may be time to take a closer look at Manchester United’s latest recruit. United have reportedly spent around £40m on the highly-rated midfielder. Van de Beek will settle terms and sign a five-year deal with United.
The Reds stepped up their efforts to acquire the 23-year-old Dutch player after the deal to bring Jadon Sancho to Old Trafford fell through. Utd was unable to agree on a price for the young England player with Borussia Dortmund who was looking upwards of £100m.
So, now, the question is… Who is Donny van de Beek? Well, the young player was a member of the brilliant Ajax side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019. The team since then has seen many of its best players scattered throughout Europe.
It is no great surprise that Van de Beek has taken his chances in the Premier League. He was also due to join Real Madrid at the start of the year, but the unexpected break in European football saw the deal fall through.
The Dutchman has spent the beginning of his career at Ajax. A product of their famous youth system, his talent was clear to see from an early age. He made his way through the system and was a member of their reserve team. It was not until 2015 that he made his first-team appearance against Glasgow Celtic in the Europa League.
Van de Beek completed his breakthrough the following season and became one of footballs hottest properties. Many top clubs were queuing up for the player’s signature. He was able to score three goals on the way to the Champions League semi-finals. It was this European run that placed him and his teammates right in the shop window.
He was also crucial to Ajax picking up their first league title in five years, scoring nine goals and providing 10 assists during the season.
The secret behind his success has been his ability to play as an attacking player or in a central position. He has been described as the complete box to box player. Van de Beek is a very good conduit for building play from defence into attack. He also has a reputation as a player who is not afraid of hard work and can put the tackles in.
Will he be able to adapt to the Premier League? It is believed that he will adjust quickly. He would be suited to a deep-lying role which would allow him to express himself. This was quite evident when he was faced with Chelsea and Tottenham in the last seasons’ Champions League.
However, he will have to fight for his place in the starting line up at Utd. At the minute, the midfield is crowded, and places are limited. He will have to get ahead of the likes of Paul Pogba, Fred, Scott McTominay, and Nemanja Matic.
Only time will tell if Donny van de Beek will become a Utd legend, we will have to wait for the new season to see. While you wait for the new season to begin, why not check out the top football-themed slots at Lucky VIP Casino site. You will find games such as Supreme Football, Football Star, and Football Champions Cup.
