When Arnaut Danjuma joined Villarreal from AFC Bournemouth last summer for €25m, little did we know he’d make such a telling impact in Unai Emery’s progressive side so soon.
A few months into his Spanish top-flight career and the recently-made Netherlands international is a man of fire, and one of La Liga’s blossoming individuals so far this season.
After hitting 17 goals and 7 assists in the Sky Bet Championship last season, the former Club Brugge forward was always destined for bigger and better things but many thought he’d make that step up in the Barclays Premier League rather than beyond borders.
With several clubs interested in his services last summer, it was Villarreal who took a punt on his flawless abilities, and its safe to say the 24-year-old hasn’t looked back.
He did state recently, he felt he was too good for the Championship and he needed to get out, and after his first few months under Unai Emery’s tutelage, Arnaut Groeneveld Danjuma’s has supremely backed up his lofty statement with some show-stopping, electric and superb performances for the Yellow Submarines.
14 appearances, 7 goals (5 in La Liga), and 3 assists Danjuma has certainly showed he is good enough and ready to cut it amongst the most elite footballers in Europe. The slippery Dutchman has gone from the Championship to the Champions League without batting an eyelid at the transition.
Danjuma’s trajectory over the past year has been nothing short of sensational, and already he is showing his talents on the most prestigious of footballing stages in the UEFA Champions League. If you need any pieces of evidence as to how good he is, not only that, but how invaluable he’s become to Unai Emery’s side in short space of time, check out his performance against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
It was simply jaw-dropping.
The forward was the most electric player on the Old Trafford pitch, despite sharing it with five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Jason Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and other stars.
The former Bournemouth man had United full-back and Portuguese international Diogo Dalot on toast, cutting through him with such expert but thrilling ease. Solskjaer’s defence simply could not handle his pace, acceleration, unerring trickery and swift close-control and deceptive movement. He finished the game with an assist to his name, but also four shots, 2 key passes, 3 dribbles and with a WhoScored rating of 7.42.
There’s no doubt about it, Danjuma is amongst the most devastating forwards in Europe right now.
Danjuma’s instant impact in Spain has surprised many, but probably not coach Unai Emery, who asked club president Fernando Roig to sign the winger this summer.
The former Arsenal manager must have made a strong case because Villarreal splashed out €25 million (£21m) on the Bournemouth man – a large transfer fee by recent Spanish standards.
While giants Real Madrid and Barcelona picked up David Alaba and Memphis Depay on free transfers, Villarreal made Danjuma the second-most expensive signing in their history, behind Paco Alcacer.
Danjuma may have been one of La Liga’s most expensive transfers this summer, but is currently proving he’s worth every penny spent. The Europa League winners were looking for a player who could help them jump forward to the next level tactically and in attack and Danjuma is keeping his part of the bargain.
Unai Emery’s men are clearly more efficient, potent and exciting on the attack and much of that is down to Danjuma’s unpredictable nature on the left-flank.
The Dutchman is one of La Liga’s most aggressive and destructive dribblers in La Liga, averaging 2.4 dribbles per game so far this campaign, per 90 he completes on average almost 2 dribbles per game, 7.76 progressive carries, 1.34 carries into the final third and an outstanding 3.43 carries into the 18-yard box showcasing just how vital he is to Villarreal’s attacking phases of play.
Danjuma also averages 9.30 touches in the opposition’s penalty box, again highlighting that he is arguably La Liga’s most effective wingers alongside the rejuvenated Real Madrid Brazillian superstar Vinicius Jr. His non-penalty XG of 0.66 is in the 99th percentile amongst Europe’s top-five leagues making him one of the most efficient scorers so far on the continent.
The 24-year-old has certainly shown up for Emery so far this season, he netted in the thrilling 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano – a stadium he knows well from his Club Brugge days – lashing past Jan Oblak in a 2-2 draw for his first goal for the club.
Clinically netting in a 2-2 draw with Atalanta in Villarreal’s Champions League opener, he was also a livewire against Elche in a 4-1 win, bursting through the defence and scoring after an hour, and also put in a brilliant showing at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
That was followed by two more in the 2-0 win over Real Betis, the first coming after he cut inside from the left and cleverly slipped the ball back inside the near post. He rounded the goalkeeper for his second, showing poise and good judgement. He again came to his side’s rescue against forcing a late leveller in the closing minutes against Cadiz in a 3-3 draw.
His tremendous form so far this season earned him a late Netherlands call up under Louis van Gaal in October, and the winger duly delivered.
“Can anyone stop Danjuma?” asked Spanish newspaper Marca after he dazzled from the bench in a 6-0 win for the Netherlands against Gibraltar.
The coach called him spectacular and pointed out that his team-mates still have to adapt to his explosive balls across the face of goal.
“He had very nice and impressive dribbles, but his team-mates were not yet geared to his hard crosses,” said Van Gaal.
With time, things will only get better in that aspect, but its clear that Danjuma has given both Louis Van Gaal and Unai Emery reasons to stand up and take notice at his incredible gifts.
His Villarreal team-mates have already given him the nickname ‘Danjumagic’, although the player humbly credits his coach for his superb start in Spain.
“I need to give a massive thanks to Unai Emery,” he told Villarreal’s website. “The coach is very busy (working) with me and he really helps me perform.”
The 24-year-old has proven the star of the show at the Estadio de la Cerámica, but has most of all proven that he can be amongst the best forwards in Europe after the tremendous campaign he enjoyed last year in the English second-division. Arnaut Danjuma was always primed for much more, and he has his sights set on much bigger things which may cause some worry amongst the Villarreal fanbase.
“I came to Villarreal to prove myself again but I’m definitely visualising the next step,” he told Mail Online in September.
It’s no surprise that the forward is already drawing interest from Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool with the former Borussia Dortmund coach reportedly sending scouts to watch Danjuma in action, who knows, the flying Dutchman may well be Sadio Mane’s heir on that left-flank at Anfield, and he’s certainly good enough to take over the role.
Danjuma is serious joy to watch in action with his blindingly quick feet, deceptive body movement and jaw-dropping trickery so it won’t only be Liverpool scouring for his services in the near future. Villarreal have already taken kindly to the 24-year-old wing wizard, and they should enjoy his magic while it lasts because the sky really is the limit for such a truly decorated footballer.
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