They used to warn clubs off signing players from the Dutch league but, as Leeds United’s Premier League return shows, there is value that can be found in the Eredivisie market.
The struggles of Antony, Matija Kezman, Afonso Alves and more did serious damage to the reputation of Dutch football over in England. Hakim Ziyech, Davinson Sanchez, Edson Alvarez and Noni Madueke – while not quite as disastrous – also struggled to live up to their hefty price-tags.
But, in recent times, success stories have been easier to come by.
Take Cody Gakpo. The Liverpool forward who, across his first two full seasons at the Premier League champions-elect, has 16 goals in each.
Leeds wanted Gakpo themselves a few years ago, of course, before he exploded at the Qatar World Cup and secured a £35 million move to Anfield.
While he slipped through the net, Joel Piroe did not. OK, technically he arrived at Leeds United from Swansea City rather than coming directly from the Netherlands.
But after four fairly prolific seasons in the Championship, a striker who joined Swansea for £1 million and then put pen to paper on a £10 million move to Elland Road more-than deserves the chance to prove he can shine alongside Gakpo on the biggest of stages.
Joel Piroe hails Cody Gakpo and Leeds United’s Pascal Struijk
Piroe played alongside Gakpo in the PSV youth teams years ago.
And he is now relishing the chance to challenge himself up against an Oranje-influenced Liverpool; Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Arne Slot all bound for West Yorkshire.
“That is just great. We have been on the field together very often and it is nice to see each other again,” Piroe says of Gakpo. “You have [Dutch players] in almost every team.”
Piroe is one of two Eredivisie exports in Daniel Farke’s Leeds United squad.
The other, Pascal Struijk, arrived from Ajax back in 2018.
A graduate of one of European football’s most famed academies, while a fractured foot ended Struijk’s Championship season ahead of schedule, the Belgian-born defender has also been a massive factor in Leeds’ return to the big time.
“How good is he exactly? I find it strange to explain that because he is, of course, my opposite on the field. But he is a real leader from the back who is very physically strong, can duel well, can defend well and is good in building up,” Piroe adds, speaking of the man who’s late brace in the 2-1 comeback win over Sunderland really lit the fuse under this title charge.
“[Struijk] has also shown his value very much in set-pieces. You feel a big difference when he is on the pitch or not. Attacking and defending, the stability that brings…
“It is also very unfortunate that he broke his foot now, but he is a very important link in our team.”
Piroe hoping Struijk can savour title celebrations at Elland Road
That Sunderland brace accounts for two of the five goals Struijk has scored this season. Injury may have limited him to just 31 league starts, but the one-time ADO Den Haag prospect is another who’s reputation has rocketed sky-high on Farke’s watch.
Amid links with Tottenham Hotspur, Pascal Struijk is reportedly valued at £25 million by Leeds these days.
“He may not be here now but he would have played more than 33 matches [if not for the injury]. It’s not that he hasn’t had a full season, but of course it’s a bummer for him that he has to miss this moment [when promotion was secured],” Piroe adds.
“I know what it means to him. He’s already experienced it once, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t want to do it again. So that has to happen one more time.”
‘A real leader’: Joel Piroe admits £25m-rated Leeds United star makes ‘a big difference when he’s on the pitch’
