Donyell Malen

[CrimsonGunner11]

@IDontLikeSpurs: 16-year old striker Donyell Malen has rejected Ajax's next contract & has signed for Arsenal. http://t.co/Ue6dKDXaXp

[Zenith]

The one with no.9 on his back.

[Dejan]

not gonna make it

next

[Cripps]

The Gunners secure the 16-year-old forward, a youth international for Netherlands, with Wim Jonk expressing his disappointment at the Dutch club losing a "great talent"

Arsenal have signed 16-year-old striker Donyell Malen from Ajax, the Dutch club have announced.

The teenager, already a youth international for Netherlands, was courted to stay by the Eredivisie side but has opted to develop with the Gunners instead.

Ajax's head of youth development, Wim Jonk, lamented his departure but says that Arsenal have star potential on their hands.

"Donyell is a great talent," Jonk told the club's official website. "It is extremely unfortunate that he is leaving Ajax.

"We have made him an excellent offer and presented a clear development plan but the player has still made another choice, which is disappointing. The potential is clear and the opportunities will come with Ajax. We are continuing with the guys who do believe in it."

With Malen unlikely to go straight into the senior reckoning, goalkeeper Petr Cech remains Arsenal's only first-team signing so far this summer.

Yay

[TrafalgarLaw]

Yay a striker

[Zenith]

Merged

[Va-Va-Voom]

Akpom and Malen.

#Strikeforce

[gooney]

Over the years there have been many young strikers who has been impressive for the u18/reserve. But they all lacked that special technique for the highest level and once opponent caught up with them physically, they looked less impressive. In the summer we sign a young striker from Ajax called Donyell Malen. The Ajax fans were very upset about this and after seeing the highlights for the reserve, he has shown many impressive technical numbers which makes him different than the likes of Akpom/Afobe who were much more direct. Could we finally get lucky with a striker?

[Zenith]

They weren't upset at all, he wasn't deemed as an exceptional talent, just a good prospect and when he left the general consensus between both fans and club official was that if he wanted to leave they would rather continue with players who do believe in breaking through the youth ranks at Ajax. Haven't seen him play for Arsenal myself though but you're wrong about Ajax fans being 'very upset' about him moving on.

[Arsene Nose]

Wenger is right in that strikers that come from the top academies are too pampered. They dont have the street fighter mentality of a suarez or sanchez. I'd rather buy a striker in his early 20s from one of those rough and tumble leagues and polish him up than go the academy route.

[gooney]

They weren't upset at all, he wasn't deemed as an exceptional talent, just a good prospect and when he left the general consensus between both fans and club official was that if he wanted to leave they would rather continue with players who do believe in breaking through the youth ranks at Ajax. Haven't seen him play for Arsenal myself though but you're wrong about Ajax fans being 'very upset' about him moving on.

i checked the ajax forum in the summer and there was real anger and he was hugely rated. Also at his age group he was the leading striker for them

[Zenith]

That's not what I read and Wim Jonk didn't seem very fussed. ↑

Hope he'll end up regretting it, obviously.

[gooney]

That's not what I read and Wim Jonk didn't seem very fussed. ↑

Hope he'll end up regretting it, obviously.

He's 16 and has been starting as the main striker for the U21 lately. he had a slow start, but last 2-3 months been the main striker for the reserve

[DarkskinJahmane]

Yassin Fortune also highly rated but he might end up on the wings...to early to tell on both and in general with most young strikers tbh

[QPRSENAL]

Gooney has just signed his career's death warrant