Anita is expected to seal his move from Newcastle United to Ajax very soon, so who is the diminutive utility player?
Newcastle United seem set to announce the transfer of Dutch utility player Vurnon Anita from Ajax in a reported £6.5million deal. The club have had a habit of magnificently astute signings recently so could this be another one.
Here’s what you need to know about the newest man through the door at St James Park.
1. Vurnon was born in the former autonomous state, The Netherlands Antilles, in the now Dutch constituent island of Curacao. It is here where he first started playing football before moving to The Netherlands in 1997.
2. Other footballers of Dutch Antillean descent include Feyenoord midfielder Leroy Fer and current Oranje team-mates Gregory Van Der Wiel and Jeffrey Bruma.
3. The Netherlands Antilles national football team, although now dissolved, were once the unofficial world champions after beating Mexico in 1963. The unofficial world championships ran on a boxing system of taking the title with victory over the holders in a competitive match, although has no official backing. The place of Anita’s birth held the title for 4 days before losing to Costa Rica.
4. After 2 years with amateur side VV Maarssen he signed for Dutch giants Ajax and was enrolled into their world famous youth program in 1999.
5. He made his senior debut in 2006 but had to wait until 2009 until seriously cementing his place in the first team as a makeshift left back after injuries to several first team regulars. However after impressing in this position Martin Jol kept him in the first team for the rest of the season.
6. Being naturally ambidextrous Vurnon was an extremely useful utility player until new coach Frank de Boer became certain he should play in holding midfield and, after an initial struggle, he made this position his own for the last 2 seasons.
7. During his time with Ajax he has won the Eredivisie twice and the KNVB Cup on three occasions.
8. He has also been a regular in the Dutch national set-up from Under-17 level through to senior level; where he made his debut against Mexico in 2010. He now has 3 caps for Oranje and hopes a move to the Premier League will help him secure more playing time at that level.
Are you pleased with the latest arrival at Toon? Can he be yet another masterstroke in the transfer market from Pardew and co?
image: © mikebrown59
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