Arnaut_Groeneveld

Arnaut Danjuma

Arnaut Danjuma

Footballer (born 1997)

Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld (born 31 January 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Villarreal. Born in Nigeria, he plays for the Netherlands national team, most recently in 2022.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...

After making one substitute appearance for Jong PSV in the Eerste Divisie, he played for NEC in the Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie, Club Brugge in the Belgian Pro League and AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League and EFL Championship. He signed for Villarreal for an estimated €25 million in 2021.

Born in Nigeria and raised mainly in the Netherlands, Danjuma earned his first cap for the Netherlands national team in October 2018. He was recalled to the team three years later.

Club career

Early career

Danjuma was born in Lagos, Nigeria to a Dutch father and a Nigerian mother.[4] After his parents' divorce, he was briefly homeless and spent time in foster care.[5] He joined PSV in 2008 from TOP Oss; he made his professional debut for Jong PSV in the Eerste Divisie on 7 December 2015 against NAC, replacing Moussa Sanoh after 65 minutes of a 3–0 home loss.[6]

In the summer of 2016, Danjuma signed for NEC where he was expected to play for the second team. On 10 September, he made his debut and first Eredivisie appearance against his former club PSV; he was an 85th-minute substitute for Reagy Ofosu in a 4–0 home loss.[7] In 16 appearances in his first season, he scored once to open a 2–0 win at Heerenveen on the final day of the season; the team were relegated through the playoffs.[8]

Club Brugge

In July 2018, Danjuma signed for Club Brugge. He made his debut on 22 July in the 2018 Belgian Super Cup, helping his team to a 2–1 win over Standard Liège.[9] On 3 October, he scored a goal against Atlético Madrid in a 3–1 loss in the Champions League group stage.[10] In his only full season in the Belgian First Division A, he scored five goals, starting with two in a 3–0 home win over Kortrijk on 10 August.[11]

AFC Bournemouth

On 1 August 2019, Danjuma joined Premier League club AFC Bournemouth for a fee of £13.7 million, signing a long-term contract.[12] He made his debut against Burton Albion in the third round of the EFL Cup on 25 September, as a 61st-minute substitute for Dominic Solanke in a 2–0 away loss;[13] his first goal was in a 3–2 win against Blackburn Rovers on 12 September 2020.[14]

After ten goal contributions in a month, Danjuma was awarded the Championship Player of the Month award for April 2021.[15] He was awarded the Bournemouth Player of the Year award after receiving 40% of the supporters' vote, narrowly beating Asmir Begović who had 38% of the vote.[16]

Villarreal

On 19 August 2021, Danjuma joined La Liga club Villarreal for a fee believed to be in the region of €25 million, signing a contract until June 2026.[17][18] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with reigning league champions Atlético Madrid on 29 August,[19] and his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 2–2 draw against Atalanta on 14 September.[20] On 19 February 2022, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 league victory over Granada;[21] two months later he contributed both goals of a home win against regional rivals Valencia.[22]

Danjuma scored six Champions League goals in his first season at Villarreal. His brace in a 3–2 win at Atalanta on 9 December put the team into the last 16 as group runners-up.[23] On 6 April 2022, he scored the only goal against Bayern Munich at the Estadio de la Cerámica in the quarter-finals first leg;[24] he missed the second leg of the semi-final elimination by Liverpool through a muscle injury.[25]

Loan to Tottenham Hotspur

During January 2023, Danjuma was set to return to England to join Everton,[26] before Tottenham Hotspur hijacked the deal.[27] On 25 January 2023, he joined Tottenham on loan until the end of the season.[28] Three days later Danjuma was added to the squad as a substitute for the FA Cup game. He came off the bench marking his debut and scored a goal in the 3–0 victory away against Preston North End.[29] He scored his first Premier League goal on 15 April 2023 in a 3–2 home defeat by Bournemouth.[30] Tottenham confirmed the end of Danjuma's loan spell on 15 June 2023.[31]

Loan to Everton

On 23 July 2023, Danjuma joined Everton on a season-long loan from Villarreal, taking the number 10 shirt.[32] He made his first appearance against Stoke City in a pre-season friendly on 29 July, playing 45 minutes before being substituted in a 1-0 away win. [33] Danjuma made his debut in a 1–0 league defeat against Fulham at Goodison Park.[34]

International career

Danjuma was born in Nigeria to a Dutch father and Nigerian mother, and was eligible for either national team.[35][36][37] He was first called up for the Netherlands national team by Ronald Koeman in October 2018.[38] He made his debut on 13 October in a 3–0 UEFA Nations League home win over Germany, as a 68th-minute substitute for former Jong PSV teammate Steven Bergwijn. Three days later, he scored his first international goal to equalise in a 1–1 friendly draw away to neighbours Belgium.[39]

After nearly three years without a cap, Danjuma returned to the squad as a replacement for Cody Gakpo. On 11 October 2021 in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier at home to Gibraltar, he came off the bench and scored in a 6–0 win.[40] Louis van Gaal did not call him up for the final tournament in Qatar.[41]

Personal life

Arnaut and Danjuma are the player's first names, with him describing the latter as his Nigerian name; he also uses Adam as his Muslim name.[42] He was raised Muslim but stated that he did not become a practising Muslim until he was an adult;[43] he celebrates goals by saying the Tahmid.[42]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 30 January 2024[44]
More information Club, Season ...
  1. Includes KNVB Cup, Belgian Cup, FA Cup, Copa del Rey
  2. Includes EFL Cup
  3. Appearances in Eredivisie relegation play-offs
  4. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
  6. Appearances in Championship play-offs
  7. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

As of match played 26 March 2022[45]
More information National team, Year ...
As of match played 11 October 2021. Netherlands score listed first, score column indicates score after each Danjuma goal.[45]
More information No., Date ...

Honours

Club Brugge

Individual

References

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  2. [2]
    "Arnaut Danjuma: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  3. [3]
    "Arnaut Danjuma: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
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    "Arnaut Danjuma: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
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    "AFC Bournemouth star Arnaut Danjuma reveals he was briefly homeless as a child". Daily Echo. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  6. [6]
    "PSV II VS. NAC BREDA 0 - 3". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  7. [7]
    Roddy, Tom. "From homeless to Championship star, Arnaut Danjuma is determined to reach the top". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  8. [8]
    "Vergeefse zege NEC bij Heerenveen" (in Dutch). NOS. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
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    "Club Brugge win the Belgian Super Cup". VRT. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
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    "Atlético Madrid 3–1 Club Bruges". BBC Sport. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  11. [11]
    Vandewalle, Ludo (10 August 2018). "Zomertransfers Danjuma en Schrijvers bezorgen Club Brugge vlotte overwinning tegen Kortrijk". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  12. [12]
    "Arnaut Danjuma: Bournemouth sign Dutch winger for £13.7m from Club Bruges". BBC Sport. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  13. [13]
    "Burton 2–0 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  14. [14]
    "Bournemouth 3–2 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
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    "Bournemouth duo Arnaut Danjuma and Jonathan Woodgate win Sky Bet Championship April awards". Sky Sports. 7 May 2021.
  16. [16]
    "DANJUMA NAMED SUPPORTERS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR". www.afcb.co.uk. 21 May 2021.
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    "Arnaut Danjuma is a Yellow". Villarreal Club de Fútbol. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  19. [19]
    "Villarreal's Danjuma opens La Liga goal account in Atletico Madrid draw". Goal. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  20. [20]
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  21. [21]
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  22. [22]
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  23. [23]
    "Danjuma's double helps take Villarreal into Champions League last 16". The Guardian. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  24. [24]
    "Danjuma gives Villarreal surprise advantage over Bayern Munich". The Guardian. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  25. [25]
    Oludare, Shina (3 May 2022). "Chukwueze benched as Dia leads Danjuma-less Villarreal's attack against Liverpool". Goal. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  26. [26]
    "Arnaut Danjuma: Everton set to sign Villarreal winger on loan amid other Premier League interest". Sky Sports. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  27. [27]
    "Arnaut Danjuma transfer: Tottenham make late move to sign Everton target on loan from Villarreal". Sky Sports. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  28. [28]
    "Danjuma joins on loan". www.tottenhamhotspur.com. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  29. [29]
    Smith, Emma (28 January 2023). "Preston North End 0–3 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  30. [30]
    "Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth team news". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  31. [31]
    "Player update". Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  32. [32]
    "Danjuma Joins Everton". www.evertonfc.com. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  33. [33]
    "Stoke City 0-1 Everton: Amadou Onana scores late winner". BBC Sport. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  34. [34]
    "Everton 0-1 Fulham: What Dyche said". BBC Sport. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  35. [35]
    "Selectie". NEC Nijmegen. 12 February 2018.
  36. [36]
    "Nigeria, Netherlands Set For Battle Over NEC Rising Star Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld". OwnGoal Nigeria. 5 February 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  37. [37]
    "Awoniyi Urges Nigeria To Beat Holland To Dutch-Nigerian Teammate Arnaut Groeneveld". OwnGoal Nigeria. 20 February 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  38. [38]
    "Koeman happy with emerging Netherlands talents". Football Oranje. 9 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  39. [39]
    "Nigeria 2 Netherlands 1: Club Brugge's Danjuma Makes Senior Debut For 1988 European Champions". www.allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  40. [40]
    "Danjuma: I couldn't let my chance go". Football Oranje. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  41. [41]
    Stewart, Ben (15 November 2022). "9 players in the Panini sticker album that won't be at the World Cup". Planet Football. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  42. [42]
    "POTS top 5: Danjuma on ambition, religion and Michael Jordan". AFC Bournemouth. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  43. [43]
    Shooble, Ahmed (12 March 2021). "Danjuma: How religion, injuries and homelessness have shaped promotion dream". The Athletic. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  44. [44]
    Arnaut Danjuma at Soccerway
  45. [45]
    "Groeneveld, Arnaut". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  46. [46]
    "2021 EFL Awards winners announced". EFL. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
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