Donyell Malen

Donyell nemalen
Malen playing for Borussia Dortmund in 2023
Personal information
Full name Donyell Malen
Date of birth (1999-01-19) 19 January 1999 (age 25)[1]
Place of birth Wieringen, Netherlands
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Borussia Dortmund
Number 21
Youth career
2007–2015[3] Ajax
2015–2017 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Jong PSV 22 (13)
2018–2021 PSV 81 (40)
2021– Borussia Dortmund 92 (29)
International career‡
2014 Netherlands U15 5 (1)
2014–2015 Netherlands U16 5 (2)
2015–2016 Netherlands U17 20 (1)
2016–2017 Netherlands U18 7 (1)
2017–2018 Netherlands U19 10 (8)
2018–2019 Netherlands U21 8 (2)
2019– Netherlands 41 (9)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:30, 7 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024

Donyell Malen (born 19 January 1999) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the Netherlands national team. Malen started his professional career at PSV Eindhoven. At youth level he also featured for Ajax and Arsenal.[4][3][5][6]

Club career

Early career

Born in Wieringen, Hollands Kroon, Malen began his career with Ajax in 2007. Despite a great deal of resistance coming from Ajax, in 2015 he left Ajax to join English club Arsenal. Malen joined up due to Arsenal being the side of his heroes Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.[3][7]

Arsenal

Malen whilst featuring for Arsenal

Malen began playing for the youth teams of Arsenal in the Youth Premier League together with the FA Youth Cup, and the UEFA Youth League in the 2015–16 season. He began to display his impressive talent during his debut season for the Gunners.[4] He scored in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final away to Coventry City which Arsenal won on penalties.[8] Coming off the bench, he scored against Manchester City in the semi-final of the 2016 FA Youth Cup at the Emirates Stadium.[9] and played 30 times during the season, scoring 14 goals.[4] During the 2016–17 season, Malen was used a great deal on the wing,[10] and was included in the club's 2017–18 pre-season tour of Australia and China.[11] He made his senior debut for Arsenal in a 2–0 win over Sydney on 13 July.[12][13]

PSV

Malen was sold by Arsenal to PSV Eindhoven in late August 2017.[14]

Malen went on to play as a winger for Jong PSV.[15] On 24 November Malen scored a brace in Jong PSV's 6–0 thumping of Telstar.[16] He again netted in PSV II's 3–0 win over FC Oss on 27 November.[17] Malen scored and picked up an assist in PSV II's 2–3 loss to Fortuna upon 4 December.[18] He again scored in a 1–1 draw away to Go Ahead Eagles on 12 December.[19] Malen went on to be named in Voetbal International's Jupiler League team of the week a day later.[20]

Malen was awarded the Bronze Bull for being the Best Talent for the second period of the 2017–18 Jupiler League on 29 January 2018.[21][22] He went to make his debut for PSV in a 4–0 Eredivisie win over PEC Zwolle on 3 February.[6] Malen went on to win the 2018 Eredivisie title with PSV.[23] He also ended the 2017–18 season as Jong PSV's topscorer.[24]

On 14 September 2019, Malen scored all 5 goals for PSV as they thrashed Vitesse.[25] On 29 October 2020, he scored a brace in a 2–1 away win over AC Omonia in the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League.[26] Malen had his most productive campaign for PSV during the 2020–21 season, scoring 19 goals in 32 matches as his club finished second in the Eredivisie.[27] He added a further 8 goals across Europa League and KNVB Cup competition and he also registered 10 assists, displaying his characteristics as a multi-faceted forward.[27]

Borussia Dortmund

On 27 July 2021, Malen completed a move to Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, signing a five-year deal.[27] On 28 September 2021, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 1–0 victory over Sporting CP.[28]

On 20 February 2024, he became the first Dutch footballer to score against a team from his country in the Champions League, since Arjen Robben in 2016, after doing so in a 1–1 draw against his former club PSV Eindhoven.[29] In the 2023–24 season, he set his personal best record in Bundesliga, becoming his club's top scorer in the league with 13 goals.[30]

International career

Youth

Malen in March 2017 whilst playing for the Netherlands

Born in the Netherlands, Malen is of Surinamese descent through his father.[31] He has represented the Netherlands at every age group from under-15 to senior level. He was a member of the Netherlands under-17 team that reached the semi-finals of the 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship held in Azerbaijan.[32][33][34][35][36][5]

Senior

Malen made his senior international debut for the Netherlands on 6 September 2019, in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier against Germany in Hamburg. He came off the bench in the 58th minute and scored his team's third goal in a 4–2 victory.[37]

Malen was a member of the Netherlands squad for UEFA Euro 2020 and made his first tournament appearance as an 89th minute substitute in their Group B opener against Ukraine on 13 June 2021.[38] He made another appearance from the bench in the second match, assisting Denzel Dumfries' second goal as the Dutch beat Austria to ensure their progress to the knockout rounds.[39] He was selected to start in the team's final group match against North Macedonia and assisted Memphis Depay's opening goal of the 3–0 win.[40] Malen retained his place in the starting line-up for the round of 16 match with Czechia but was substituted after 57 minutes as the Netherlands were beaten 2–0 and eliminated from the tournament.[41]

Malen scored three goals during 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification but was omitted from the 26-man squad for the tournament finals in Qatar. [42]

In June 2023, Malen was part of the Netherlands' squad for the 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals. He scored the opening goal of an eventual 4–2 loss to Croatia in the semi-final and also started the third place play-off loss to Italy, where he was substituted at half time for Steven Bergwijn.[43][44]

On 29 May 2024, Malen was named in the Netherlands' squad for UEFA Euro 2024.[45] In the round of 16 match against Romania, he scored a brace in a 3–0 victory, securing his country's qualification to the quarter-finals.[46]

Style of play

Malen is a tremendously quick player who possesses great dribbling skills and an aptitude for prolific goal scoring. Malen has been likened by ex-Ajax youth coach Brian Tevreden to Chilean forward Alexis Sánchez.[47]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 11 December 2024[48]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jong PSV 2017–18 Eerste Divisie 22 13 — — — 22 13
PSV Eindhoven 2017–18 Eredivisie 4 0 0 0 0 0 — 4 0
2018–19 Eredivisie 31 10 2 0 8[b] 1 1[c] 0 42 11
2019–20 Eredivisie 14 11 0 0 10[d] 6 1[c] 0 25 17
2020–21 Eredivisie 32 19 3 1 10[e] 7 — 45 27
Total 81 40 5 1 28 14 2 0 116 55
Borussia Dortmund 2021–22 Bundesliga 27 5 2 0 8[f] 4 1[g] 0 38 9
2022–23 Bundesliga 26 9 3 1 6[b] 0 — 35 10
2023–24 Bundesliga 27 13 3 1 8[b] 1 — 38 15
2024–25 Bundesliga 12 2 2 0 5[b] 2 0 0 19 4
Total 92 29 10 2 27 7 1 0 130 38
Career total 195 82 15 3 55 21 3 0 268 106
  1. ^ Includes KNVB Cup, DFB-Pokal
  2. ^ a b c d Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ a b Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield
  4. ^ Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and five goals in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Six appearances and three goals in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ Appearance in DFL-Supercup

International

As of match played 19 November 2024[49]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Netherlands 2019 4 1
2020 2 0
2021 11 3
2022 2 0
2023 9 1
2024 13 4
Total 41 9
Scores and results list the Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Malen goal.[49]
List of international goals scored by Donyell Malen
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 6 September 2019 Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany 1  Germany 3–2 4–2 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
2 30 March 2021 Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar 8  Gibraltar 5–0 7–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 7 September 2021 Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands 15  Turkey 6–0 6–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 11 October 2021 De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands 16  Gibraltar 6–0 6–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 14 June 2023 De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands 22  Croatia 1–0 2–4 (a.e.t.) 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals
6 22 March 2024 Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands 29  Scotland 4–0 4–0 Friendly
7 10 June 2024 De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands 32  Iceland 3–0 4–0
8 2 July 2024 Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany 35  Romania 2–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2024
9 3–0

Honours

PSV

Borussia Dortmund

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Donyell Malen | Playerprofile | Bundesliga". bundesliga.com. DFL. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Donyell Malen | Borussia Dortmund | Player Profile | Bundesliga". bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Donyell Malen: Interview". Arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Group, Arsenal Media. "Donyell Malen: Profile". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ a b "Dutch U19 Squad". Ajax Showtime.com.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ a b "Donyell Malen debuteert in het 'grote' PSV: 'In een vol stadion is toch anders'". Omroepbrabant.nl (in Dutch).
  7. ^ "Aanvaller Donyell Malen (17) en zijn moeder Mariska Manshanden". Volksrant.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  8. ^ Turner, Andy (15 February 2016). "Match report: Coventry City exit FA Youth Cup to Arsenal after dramatic penalty shoot-out". CoventryLive. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Manchester City pip Arsenal to FA Youth Cup final spot with 4-3 aggregate victory". The FA. 4 April 2016. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Review: Leicester 0-3 Arsenal – Malen shines as Young Guns victorious". Daily Cannon.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Arsenal in Sydney". Arsenal.com.
  12. ^ "SYDNEY VS. ARSENAL 0 - 2". Soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Alexandre Lacazette scores on Arsenal debut in friendly vs. Sydney FC". ESPN FC.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Donyell Malen joins PSV Eindhoven". Talksport.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  15. ^ "Jong PSV vs RKC Waalwijk". Soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Ook PSV-aanvaller Donyell Malen gelooft nu in het ketchup-verhaal". ED.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  17. ^ "FC Oss kansloos onderuit tegen Jong PSV". BD.nl (in Dutch).
  18. ^ "PSV II VS. FORTUNA SITTARD 2 - 3". Soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  19. ^ "Go Ahead Eagles 1-1 PSV II". Soccerway.com.
  20. ^ "Limburgse glorie in het Elftal van de Week". Voetbal International.com (in Dutch).
  21. ^ a b "Donyell Malen". Twitter.
  22. ^ a b @ESPNnl (29 January 2018). "🐂 Donyell Malen (Jong @PSV) krijgt de Bronzen Stier voor grootste talent van de tweede periode in de @jupilerleague uitgereikt van een trotse moeder" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ^ a b "PSV KAMPIOEN". YouTube (in Dutch). Fox Sports.
  24. ^ "Balans van de Brabantse Jupiler League-clubs: goalgetter Lieder, donkerrood RKC, smaakmaker Kamaçi". Omroep Brabant.nl (in Dutch).
  25. ^ "Donyell Malen: PSV Eindhoven youngster scores five in rout over Vitesse". 14 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  26. ^ "Omonia 1–2 PSV". UEFA. 29 October 2020. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  27. ^ a b c "Borussia Dortmund sign forward Donyell Malen from PSV". The Athletic. 27 July 2021.
  28. ^ "Dortmund 1–0 Sporting CP". UEFA. 28 September 2021.
  29. ^ Buxton, Richard (20 February 2024). "📸 Donyell Malen breaks 8️⃣ year cycle with goal against former club". OneFootball.
  30. ^ "Donyell Malen: Who is Borussia Dortmund's flying Dutch forward?". Bundesliga. 14 March 2024.
  31. ^ "Profvoetballers van Surinaamse afkomst". Natio Suriname | Voetbal. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  33. ^ "Chong to the fore as Netherlands edge Sweden". UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
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  35. ^ "Netherlands U21s beaten by Austria but U18s hammer Czech Republic". Football Oranje.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
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  37. ^ "Germany 2-4 Netherlands". uefa.com. 6 September 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
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  39. ^ "Netherlands v Austria Euro 2020 Live". The Guardian. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  40. ^ "North Macedonia 0-3 Netherlands: Oranje shine on Pandev's farewell". UEFA.com. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
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  42. ^ "Depay, Klaassen in Dutch squad; Gravenberch, Danjuma miss out". FIFA.com. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  43. ^ "Netherlands vs Croatia". UEFA. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  44. ^ "Netherlands vs Italy". UEFA. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
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  46. ^ "Euro 2024: Malen double helps Netherlands beat Romania". ESPN. 2 July 2024.
  47. ^ "Ex-Ajax chief says Arsenal whizkid Donyell Malen just like Alexis Sanchez". Ghana Soccernet.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  48. ^ "Donyell Malen » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  49. ^ a b Donyell Malen at National-Football-Teams.com
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  51. ^ "Donyell Malen named Eredivisie player of the month". Eredivisie. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.[permanent dead link‍]
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