Southampton wrapped up their business for the summer by sealing a one-year loan deal for defender Toby Alderweireld from La Liga champions Atletico Madrid during last Monday’s transfer deadline day. Upon completing the transfer, Saints boss Ronald Koeman hailed the quality and top-flight experience of his latest signing:
“I am delighted that we have been able to bring Toby to the club. He is a strong defender, and is also very good at building up the play when we play out from the back. He played in the top league in Spain and against top teams in Europe, so he has a lot of confidence and experience, and he has a big future because he is still young. We needed competition in our squad, and with Toby here we now have a lot of possibilities and quality.”
Alderweireld, meanwhile, admitted he’s keen to work under the Dutchman and stressed his eagerness to kick on in his new surroundings:
“Koeman’s style of play fits me and I’m very happy to be here. It’s a very big step for my career. I had to make the right decision. I think Southampton in this stage of my career is the right step. They are up and coming, a very warm club. It’s something I’ve been searching for and it’s great that I find it here. Now, I want to give something back to the club and do all my best to help the team. It’s nice to hear that he (Koeman) likes my play. He called me and said that he really wants me to come. A trainer that believes in me is really important.”
The History
Tobias Albertine Maurits Alderweireld is yet another product of the indefatigable Ajax youth academy. Having impressed as a youngster, the Belgian earned his first-team debut in the season of 2008/09 during which he went on to make several appearances in the Eredivisie and Europa League. The following campaign, Alderweireld – at the age of just 20 – established himself in Ajax’s starting XI at centre-back alongside Jan Vertonghen, and finished the season with the reputed title of ‘Ajax Talent of the Year’.
In the following three seasons, Alderweireld was an integral part of the Ajax side that secured three consecutive Eredivisie titles, scoring five goals in the league and a further five in his side’s Champions League pursuits.
Following his success with the Dutch giants, the young defender moved to Atletico at the start of the 2013/14 season for a €7 million fee. However, game-time proved hard to come by for the Belgian, who made just 12 appearances for his new side as they pipped Barcelona and rivals Real Madrid to the La Liga title and reached the Champions League final (in which Alderweireld took to the field for the final stages of extra time).
Having made his senior debut in 2009, Alderweireld now has 37 caps to his name for Belgium’s national side. The most recent of those appearances came in this summer’s World Cup, in which the defender started four of Belgium’s five games, conceding just three goals.
The Prospects
Though last season may have been a disappointment for Alderweireld on a personal level, his move to Southampton should breathe new life into the 25-year-old’s career. The Belgian’s experience on the continent looks set to see him instilled at the hear of the Saints’ back-four alongside Jose Fonte, which should all but ending the game time of Maya Yoshida, who has until now stood out as the only sub-5.0 route into Koeman’s defence.
Although Alderweireld was occasionally used at right back during his years with Ajax, it seems highly unlikely that Nathaniel Clyne’s starting spot will come under threat. Alderweireld has been introduced to the Fantasy Premier League game at a starting price of 5.0, a factor which could propel him up and above the 5.5-priced Fonte in our reckoning if he does, as expected, secure a starting role.
Whilst Clyne’s potential for attacking returns still guarantees his higher place in our Watchlist right now, Alderweireld himself demonstrated a propensity for a stunning strike on a number of occasions during his years at Ajax – a couple of those in the near future for the Saints would see the Belgian’s allure increase immensely.
The defender couldn’t be handed a kinder schedule to settle in to his new surroundings. Southampton are one of only five teams to be handed four home fixtures in the next six Gameweeks and one look at their schedule (NEW, swa, QPR, tot, SUN, STO) suggests they have every chance of continuing on from the Gameweek 3 win at West Ham. With a summer of upheaval now over, Koeman will be optimistic that his new-look side can click into gear and Alderweireld’s arrival certainly suggests they’ve made a step in the right direction.
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