Eintracht Frankfurt have made their first move in the January transfer window by snapping up Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek from Manchester United on an initial loan until the end of the season. The Adler have the option to make the move permanent in the summer.
The move to the Deutsche Bank Park brings to an end a miserable chapter in the 26-year-old’s career which has largely stalled since his move from Ajax to the Premier League in 2020. He made just 35 league appearances for The Red Devils and was sent out on loan to Everton in 2022, which also ended in disappointment. The move to Frankfurt gives the midfielder the chance to get his career back on track after emerging as one of Ajax’s finest young talents.
He joined the Amsterdam club as an eleven-year-old and quickly came to prominence as he progressed through the youth ranks making his first-team debut as an 18-year-old in 2015. He was a key member of the side that won the Eredivisie in 2018-19 and which also progressed to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Team mates at the time included Frenkie de Jong (now Barcelona), Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), as well as Dusan Tadic and Hakim Ziyech.
With Sebastian Rode increasingly absent through injury and both Fares Chaibi and Ellyes Skhiri set to represent their countries at the African Cup of Nations, the arrival of van de Beek will give trainer Dino Toppmöller added options in midfield.
Eintracht are believed to be paying a nominal loan fee and covering the majority of the player’s wages. A non-compulsory buy-out clause of around €11 million is on the table for the Adler at the end of the current season.
What they’re saying:
Markus Krösche (sporting director): “Donny van de Beek fits our game idea perfectly and is an important piece of the puzzle for our team. He brings a wealth of international experience that our young players will benefit from. Donny exudes a goal-scoring threat and, above all, should put our attackers in promising positions.”
Donny van de Beek: “The feeling was very good. I spoke with the people at the club and from both sides everyone is very happy. I am confident it will be a good success. On the football side I think I can bring something to the team in different aspects. I’m looking forward to it.”
