The former Ajax, AC Milan and AS Roma defender joined the Owls on Tuesday.
New Sheffield Wednesday signing Urby Emanuelson has told Voetbal International he had serious interest from one Dutch club before moving to Hillsborough.
Emanuelson had been a free agent after leaving Italian side Hellas Verona at the end of last season, and claimed a current Eredivisie side made an approach for him at the start of the summer window.
“At the beginning of the summer transfer window FC Groningen volunteered, but it was too early,” the versatile full-back told Voetbal International. “Later I spoke briefly with Quincy (Owusu-Abeyie, the former Arsenal winger) about NEC Nijmegen, but that was never really serious.”
Despite this, the Emanuelson suitors were seemingly few and far between by Wednesday’s transfer deadline – extending the 30-year-old’s search for employment.
But – lucky for him – along came the Owls, who were forced to turn to the free agent market having seen moves for Football League pair Joe Bennett and Morgan Fox blocked by Aston Villa and Charlton Athletic respectively.
“They offered me a good contract. I am equal in salary to the top group,” Emanuelson claimed. “Also they expressed confidence in me, so this is not a gamble.”
At the height of his career Emanuelson, who won major honours with Ajax and AC Milan, was a regular in the Netherlands’ national team set up – winning 17 caps.
And in one of those – a 1-1 draw with Ukraine six years ago – he appeared alongside a certain Glenn Loovens, the current Wednesday captain.
“I have not talked to him (Loovens), but I’m going to have a chat with him,” Emanuelson added, ahead of his arrival at Hillsborough. “Hopefully he can make me find my way here.”
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