Owen Wijndal: Barcelona’s perfect successor to Jordi Alba
Karan Tejwani
- Updated: 4 Aug 2022 11:47 BST
- 4 min read
Barcelona have been in the market for a new left-back, and their next long-term option could be in the form of Ajax’s new signing Owen Wijndal.
The Blaugrana have targeted Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso as a short-term fix, with Jordi Alba still being their first-choice in that position after nearly a decade of fine displays for the club.
Alba, though, is 33 and may not be at his best for long, which will force Barcelona to look for a long-term option, and Wijndal, if he continues on this trajectory, would be the ideal choice.
The 22-year-old only moved to Ajax earlier this summer as Nicolas Tagliafico departed, and has made his mark on the Eredivisie in the past with AZ.
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Wjindal has had a great rise
Wijndal started off with the Alkmaar club, joining them as a youngster in 2010, developing through the ranks and making his debut for them in the 2017-18 season.
He has since grown as a player at left-back, making the position his own over his last two seasons at the club, and even earned a call-up to Frank de Boer and Louis van Gaal’s Dutch national sides.
Last season, he captained AZ at the tender age of 21 and put in a season that recorded 12 assists in 43 appearances as AZ finished fifth in the league.
That earned him a move to Ajax on a fair €10 million fee, and in his official debut for the club in the Johan Cruyff Shield final against PSV, he recorded two assists, despite Ajax’s 5-3 loss.
What makes him a fine footballer is his attacking threat, something that would contribute to most teams, including Barcelona, as he’s eager to drive forward.
He’s good with linking up with defenders and progressing the ball forward – traits that make a special modern full-back, and that was why Ajax were desperate to bring him to Amsterdam.
One of the deficiencies in his game is his defensive awareness and lack of aerial threat – he does get caught lacking at times, and that was sometimes shown in the match against PSV, which is probably why he was taken off in the second half.
Fantastic goal.
Been hard on Rensch but this is very well done. Wijndal's movement also so important yet again. That Bergwijn-Wijndal combination is going to be incredible. pic.twitter.com/rG17DuvRDN— Marc Geschwind (@MarcGeschwind) July 30, 2022
Still, though, he is young and has time and the right environment to improve, which will work in his favour as he looks to make a long, successful career at Ajax.
Ajax have an eye for a good attacking full-back, and they’ve gone on to have good careers in recent years such as Tagliafico, Noussair Mazraoui and Sergino Dest.
Wijndal is in a good position to follow them, and will have plenty of time on the pitch to show that while at Ajax, which will only help aid his development in the coming years.
Should he continue on the trajectory he’s on, he should be on the plane to Qatar for the World Cup, and if he has a good season, there will surely be interest in him next season.
Ajax fended off interest from others to secure his signature, and from the player’s perspective, it was the right move; the goal now will be to make the most of it and make the best of his potential.
