Donny van de Beek next? Four Ajax stars who became Premier League legends with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham
After Chelsea snapped up Hakim Ziyech, Manchester United have now swooped for Donny van de Beek, another of Ajax’s 2018/19 heroes.
The team has been sold off over the last two summers as the Dutch giants profit on their spectacular academy and recruitment work.
Van de Beek has been linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid in the past
Van de Beek’s £35m move sees him head to Old Trafford as Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plots an assault on the Premier League title – the Norwegian is not holding back.
In fact, as soon as he’s sealed this deal he’s reportedly off to sign Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig, which could be another incredible coup.
Manchester United and their new addition, Van de Beek, could really be a threat for Liverpool and Man City.
This is not the first time top English clubs have raided Ajax for their top talent though and every now and again it works to a incredible degree.
So, here at talkSPORT.com, we have taken a look at the men who shone after transfers to the Premier League from Amsterdam.
Donny van de Beek is not coming to Man United to play CDM – Dutch expert Marcel van der Kraan on where £35m signing will fit at Old Trafford
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Christian Eriksen (Tottenham) – 2013
Like all great love stories, this one end in tears and bitterness but the good times won’t be forgotten in N17.
Signed as one of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ stars who were brought in as Spurs sought to replace Gareth Bale, Eriksen was the best of the bunch – by a long way.
The creator-in-chief of the Tottenham midfield, barring a bought of second-season syndrome, Eriksen made the attack tick.
Without the Dane, the likes of Dele Alli, Harry Kane, and Heung-Min Son wouldn’t have been able to score as many as they did in the glory days under Mauricio Pochettino.
With no silverware, the Champions League final in 2019 was the zenith but quickly came the nadir and once he’d revealed he wished to move onto a new venture fans rounded on him.
A transfer to Inter Milan materialised in January but already he could be set to leave having failed to make an impact there.
Eriksen’s exceptional ability to both score and create made him a huge hit
Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham) – 2012
Born in Sint-Niklaas, the Belgian was the gift which kept giving for Spurs.
Many will point to his signing as the start of the good times in N17 but there were troubles to start. Clearly an outstanding talent, he kept the club ticking while the revolution began.
Out went the old boys and the deadwood, in came the academy talents and new signings who would shape the next eight years. Vertonghen led them forward.
His partnership with another ex-Ajax man, Toby Alderweireld, became one of the Premier League’s best as Spurs battled for silverware.
Over the last year or two at the club his legs began to catch up with him but not before a display at left wing-back against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League at Wembley.
It’s a display which will go down in legend in north London while, during his pomp, he was consistently one of the Premier League’s top centre-backs.
Vertonghen joined Ajax’s academy in 2003 and won the title there for before joining Tottenham
Luis Suarez (Liverpool) – 2011
After a pit-stop in Groningen, the Uruguayan hit astonishing heights with Ajax, scoring 49 goals in 48 games in his last full campaign in Amsterdam.
His time at Anfield started a little slower than some of us remember – the passing of time can play cruel tricks – but nonetheless his last two seasons with Liverpool were truly outstanding.
A goal machine who almost powered the club to a Premier League title, his warrior spirit fired up a club in need of fresh impetus.
The League Cup, won in his first full season, was the only silverware claimed but the personal accolades were racked up at quite the rate.
Twice in the PFA Team of the Year, Player of the Year, FWA Player of the Year, PFA Players’ Player of the Year, and a Golden Boot.
Then Barcelona came calling.
Suarez was incredible in his prime at Liverpool
Marc Overmars (Arsenal) – 1997
When others cast doubt on the Dutchman’s ability to hit his previous heights after tearing his knee ligaments in Amsterdam, Arsene Wenger was willing to sign Overmars for around £5.5m.
His faith paid off and the winger’s devastating pace and finishing ability saw him fire the Gunners to a famous double in his first season.
He hit a brace in their title-clinching match against Everton, while he also netted in the 1998 FA Cup final win over Newcastle.
When fit, he was fantastic and in 2000 he was signed by Barcelona in a deal which saw Emmanuel Petit also swap Highbury for the Camp Nou.
Overmars was once named the 12th best player in Arsenal history
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