Leeds United reportedly wanted to bring Lonwijk to the Championship from Eredivisie title chasers PSV Eindhoven, along with Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Any Leeds United fans hoping that Justin Lonwijk would be their first signing of the summer should not hold their breath.
Tuttomercatoweb reported recently that Leeds were battling Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt for the signature of the highly-rated PSV Eindhoven ace, a skilful and creative attacking midfielder who has a superb record at youth level.
And the Eindhoven Dagblad added that he would be available for a bargain £350,000 – a fee that made Lonwijk, who hit 20 goals in 50 games for PSV’s Under 19 side, a risk worth taking.
But Lonwijk won’t be joining the Marcelo Bielsa revolution at Elland Road. Instead, he has opted to continue his education in the Eredivisie with FC Utrecht.
“(He is) a dynamic midfielder with good technique,” Utrecht’s technical director Jody Zuidam told Voetbal International. “He has height, good physique and a lot of power. Justin is an attacking midfielder, a so-called box to box player. He is a great talent with a lot of room for progress.”
Time will tell whether Lonwijk made the right choice but Utrecht looks like a good place for the teenager to hone his trade.
Utrecht will be coached by John Van den Brom next season, a highly-rated and attack-minded Dutchman who brought through a number of exciting youngsters during his impressive spell at AZ Alkmaar.
Who knows, if Lonwijk impresses at the Stadion Galgenwaard, who is to say he won’t be on his way to Leeds in 12 months’ time?
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