When Vincent Janssen arrived from the Netherlands having thumped 27 goals in 34 Eredivisie games for AZ Alkmaar last season, Tottenham fans were cautiously optimistic.
The 22-year-old’s goalscoring touch is yet to reveal itself in England, adding to a chequered history of strikers arriving from Holland's top flight. On the one hand it has produced three Premier League Golden Boot winners in Ruud van Nistelrooy, Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie. On the other, it’s given us Mateja Kezman.
Here, we compare Janssen’s opening 11 league games against eight other Eredivisie imports – and as Van Persie’s career trajectory will testify, Janssen and Spurs needn’t panic yet…
9. Vincent Janssen – Tottenham (2016/17)
1 goal, 1 assist
It’s been a tough start for Janssen, with his solitary goal coming from the penalty spot against Leicester in late October (AZ fans probably thought that too, though – and then look what happened).
The Dutchman has failed to string two league starts together since his move from AZ, having struggled to capitalise on Harry Kane’s seven-week absence through injury.
It looks unlikely that Janssen will depose Kane as Spurs’ main striker any time soon, and the 22-year-old faces a battle to force his way into Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI on a permanent basis. He's got plenty of time on his side, though.
8. Wilfried Bony – Swansea (2013/14)
4 goals, 1 assist
Bony’s arrival in England from Vitesse Arnhem started with great promise: in his first 11 games, the Ivorian started six times and scored four goals.
It was a fine start, and as Michu’s goals dried up with form loss and injury, the Swans’ new man kicked on in 2014, starting every league game from January till May, scoring 13 and assisting three more.
Moving to Manchester City in January 2015 undoubtedly halted his progress, though, and Bony is now plying his trade on loan at Stoke in the hope of rekindling his deadly touch.
7. Luis Suarez – Liverpool (2010/11)
4 goals, 4 assists
Suarez arrived at Liverpool after his first biting controversy helped force a departure from Ajax in January 2011, and the Uruguayan was evidently champing at the bit to get going for his new side: he scored against Stoke on his Anfield debut after coming on as a substitute.
The livewire striker started in his next 10 league appearances, notching three goals and, equally importantly, four assists. It highlighted his ability to turn provider at the flick of a switch – a signature element of his game which is currently being showcased to devastating effect alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar at Barcelona.
Next: Who scored only two goals in his 70 Premier League appearances? *winces*
6. Jozy Altidore – Hull (2009/10)
0 goals, 2 assists
Before Altidore’s dire 18-month spell at Sunderland, the American had a season-long stint in the Premier League at Hull, where he was on loan from Villarreal.
It didn’t go well. With no goals and two assists in his first 11 league games, Altidore flipped between starter and substitute all too frequently.
Still, it didn’t deter Sunderland from signing him for £8.5m in 2013 from AZ Alkmaar after he’d plundered 39 goals in 67 Eredivisie games over the previous two seasons. One goal in 42 league appearances for Sunderland, however, tells you all you need to know. Altidore’s Premier League numbers reads two strikes in 70 appearances. Ouch indeed.
5. Afonso Alves – Middlesbrough (2007/08)
6 goals, 0 assists
Often cited as the reason why Premier League clubs should approach Eredivisie strikers with caution. Alves’s opening half-season wasn’t at all bad, though, despite failing to net in his first five games.
The €20m record signing started the next six and scored just as many. It included a final-day hat-trick against Manchester City, a game which Boro won 8-1.
However, Alves’s time in England deteriorated thereafter – a paltry four goals in his first full season contributed to Boro losing their place in the top tier, and the Brazilian was shipped off to Qatar in the following transfer window.
4. Dirk Kuyt – Liverpool (2006/07)
5 goals, 0 assists
Liverpool fans won’t best remember Kuyt for his goalscoring exploits, but they can be forgiven for thinking their affections might be heading that way after a strong start from the Dutchman – he started nine of his first 11 matches for the Reds, scoring five times.
However, with Peter Crouch, Craig Bellamy and a returning Robbie Fowler also vying for a starting spot up front, the £15m man from Feyenoord had to settle for a supporting role on the wing in his first campaign under Rafa Benitez. That hindered his goal ratio, but he endeared himself to the Liverpool faithful thanks to a tireless work ethic on the pitch.
Now aged 36, he’s still going strong as skipper back at Feyenoord.
3. Mateja Kezman – Chelsea (2004/05)
0 goals, 0 assists
What to say about Kezman’s one and only Premier League season? Six starts, four goals – but still, one Premier League winner's medal.
In what was Jose Mourinho’s first season as Chelsea manager, Kezman failed to score in his opening 11 games and found himself benched frequently as Eidur Gudjohnsen, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard instead did the damage up top.
Kezman swiftly left for Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2005, going on to form a decent partnership with Fernando Torres the following season.
2. Robin van Persie – Arsenal (2004/05)
1 goal, 0 assists
Van Persie joined Arsenal from Feyenoord after their ‘Invincibles’ campaign, just shy of his 21st birthday. The Gunners looked to continue their unbeaten romp into the following season, and Van Persie subsequently found himself behind Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Jose Antonio Reyes in the pecking order.
Having made just one start in his first 11 league games, Van Persie netted once against Southampton in what was Arsenal’s first game after Manchester United ended their 49-game unbeaten run (he wasn’t named in the squad).
Arsene Wenger remained patient, however, and Van Persie turned into a prolific goalscorer. Though he didn’t break double figures for Premier League goals until 2006/07, and couldn’t top 11 goals in his largely supportive role until 2010/11, he landed back-to-back Golden Boots in 2011/12 and 2012/13 – the latter during his debut, title-winning season at Manchester United.
1. Ruud van Nistelrooy – Manchester United (2001/02)
5 goals, 1 assist
Van Nistelrooy kicked off with a brace on debut against Fulham and never looked back. He started 10 of his first 11 games, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s faith in the Dutchman paid off.
The £19m signing from PSV proved to be the ultimate fox in the box, netting 23 goals in 32 league games that season – enough to see him crowned PFA Player of the Year.
The striker proved his first season was no fluke as he guided United to league glory in 2003, ending the campaign with the Golden Boot after scoring 25 goals. In total, his record for the club stood at a mightily impressive 149 goals in 215 games.
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