Full name Donyell Malen Playing position 2007–2015 Ajax Position Forward | Place of birth Wieringen, Netherlands Number 56 Current team Arsenal F.C. | |
Date of birth (1999-01-09) 9 January 1999 (age 18) Similar Chris Willock, Jeff Reine‑Adelaide, Ismaël Bennacer, Ainsley Maitland‑Niles, Vlad Dragomir | ||
Donyell Malen (born 19 January 1999) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for Arsenal. Malen, who is a Forward, has also featured for Ajax as well as of present that of the Netherlands U19 Football Team.
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Early career
Born in Wieringen, Hollands Kroon, Malen began his career with Ajax before moving to England to play for Arsenal, the club of his heroes Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.
Arsenal
Malen plays for the youth teams of Arsenal in the Youth Premier League together with the FA Youth Cup, and the UEFA Youth League as well. The Dutchman started displaying his immense and immeasurable talent during his debut season for the Gooners.
The Dutchman provided an assist in Arsenal's 2-0 triumph over Bayern Munich in their October 2015 Youth Champions League clash. He also scored with wonderful chips against that of Brighton and Hove and another vs that of West Bromwich Albion in the 2015-16 Youth Premier League.
Malen found himself on the scoresheet in the FA Youth Cup quarterfinal away to Coventry City which Arsenal won on penalties. As well as such, he in coming off the bench, scored against Manchester City in the semi-final of the 2016 FA Youth Cup at the Emirates Stadium.
On February 6, 2016 it was reported that Malen signed his first professional contract with Arsenal.
Malen was altogether capped thirty times during the 2015-2016 season for Arsenal wherein he found himself on the scoresheet on a total of fourteen occasions.
During the 2016-17 season, he was used a great deal upon the wing. Malen once again scored against Brighton and Hove in a 3-0 victory then found an assist for the Gooners U18s in their 1-1 draw away against West Ham United. He also got another assist which came in a 1-0 win against Norwich City and ticked off another goal in a 1-1 draw vs Aston Villa. The Dutchman again offered an assist in a 1-1 draw against FC Basel in the UEFA Youth League. Malen also got upon the scoreboard and assisted in a 3-0 rout of Leicester City as well as netting in a 3-1 victory vs that of Reading F.C. in January of 2017. He also scored, delivered an assist and fostered a penalty, in a 4-1 win against Chelsea in February of 2017 for Arsenal's U23s. In March of 2017 Malen delivered an assist in a 2-0 win for Arsenal's U23s over rivals Tottenham in the North London Derby.
International Career
At the 2016 Under 17 Euros held at Azerbaijan, Malen in representing Holland, played throughout the tournament where Ons Oranje made it to the semi finals of such. Malen currently features for the Netherlands Under-19 Football Team. He also was called up, in December of 2016, to the Dutch squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Style of play
Malen is a tremendously quick player of whom possesses great dribbling skills and an aptitude for prolific goal scoring of which is illustrated in his displays for both club and country.
Personal Life
Malen is a fan of Surinamese cuisine and is as well good friends with fellow footballing dutchman Justin Kluivert.