Former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen returns to Belgium from Benfica to join Anderlecht

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From Benfica to Anderlecht 

In the summer of 2003, former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen left youth club Beerschot AC to seek his fortune in Ajax’s famous youth academy. 19 years and three spells abroad later, the 139-time Belgium international returns to his homeland from Benfica to join RSC Anderlecht until 2024.

From Cruijff to Gravenberch – Players from Ajax’s famous youth academy

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The great Johan Cruijff left Ajax in 1973 and joined FC Barcelona for a €2 million.

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A year later, Johan Neeskens followed him to the Catalan capital.

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To this day, Marco van Basten is regarded as one of the best strikers of all time. AC Milan benefited from his abilities in 1987.

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Frank Rijkaard left his youth club in the summer of 1988 for €2.27 million for Sporting…

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…while Aron Winter preferred a move to Lazio in January of 1992. The fee at the time was €1.3 million.

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Dennis Bergkamp tried his luck at Inter Milan in 1993 before becoming an icon at Arsenal a few years later. The Nerazurri paid €9.77 million for the forward.

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Clarence Seedorf’s first move abroad was to the Serie A. Sampdoria paid €3.62 million for the midfielder, who later played for Real Madrid, Inter and AC Milan

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Patrick Kluivert played for AC Milan for a year in 1997 before he made the move to Barcelona. The original €2 million fee which the Italians paid for the striker increased tenfold during his time at the club.

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The exodus to Italy was continued by Edgar Davids, who also moved to Milan on a free transfer in January 1998.

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In January 1999, brothers Frank and Ronald de Boer moved to FC Barcelona for €7.5 million each.

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Also on a free transfer, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar left for Juventus in 1999.

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A few years later, a new generation of players was ready to move abroad. HSV were more than happy to sign Rafael van der Vaart for €5.1 million in the summer of 2005…

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…and a half year late Nigel de Jong for only €1.5 million.

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In the summer of 2007, Real Madrid paid €27 million for midfielder Wesley Sneijder.

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Ryan Babel brought in €17.25 million with his move to Liverpool.

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A year later Johnny Heitinga left for around €10 million.

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Thomas Vermaelen spent many years in the Ajax youth system. In 2009, Arsenal bought the defender for €12 million.

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His compatriot Jan Vertonghen followed him toLondon three years later, but his decision led him to the Spurs who paid half a million more on his transfer fee than Arsenal did for Vermaelen.

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Spurs bought another youngster a year later. For a €13.5 million, Christian Eriksen joined the Premier League club.

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Tony Alderweireld also famously ended up at Tottenham, but initially joined Atlético Madrid for €7 million in the summer of 2013.

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Defender Daley Blind went to Manchester United for €17.5 million in 2014 – and returned to his youth club for €1.5 million less in 2018.

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Davy Klaassen was signed by Everton for €27 million in the summer of 2017. The midfielder was also a long-time member of Ajax’s De Toekomst football school ahead of his year in England.

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Justin Kluivert moved to AS Roma for €17.25 million in the summer of 2018.

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In July 2019, Frenkie de Jong joined FC Barcelona for a then club-record fee of €86 million…

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… while Juventus completed the €85.5 million signing of Matthijs de Ligt later that month.

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Donny van de Beek tried his luck with a €39 million move to Manchester United in 2020.

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In the same year, Sergiño Dest also joined Barça. A transfer fee of €21 million was due for the US international.

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One of the latest homegrown players to leave Ajax’s famous academy is Ryan Gravenberch. The midfielder signed for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022. The German club paid a fee of €18.5 million.

“There have been talks with RSC Anderlecht in the past, but suddenly everything fell into place,” Vertonghen said. “I have been following the club project for a while and I am convinced that I can contribute with my experience. This is simply the right step in my career and I am really looking forward to my first game at Lotto Park.” Anderlecht’s technical director Peter Verbeke said: “Jan is highly motivated to give everything for RSCA in the next two seasons. He has concrete goals in mind that he wants to achieve with this club. With his winning mentality, experience and of course his qualities, he is a great addition to our squad.”


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Vertonghen has made the step to the first team squad in Amsterdam in 2006. The defender played a total of 220 games for Ajax (28 goals, 12 assists) before joining Tottenham in the Premier League for €12.5 million in 2012. The left-footed defender spent eight years in London, but failed to win a title with Spurs despite making 315 appearances for the club. In 2020, the Belgian, who played in two World Cups and two European Championships with the national team, left England for Benfica.


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