Who is Carel Eiting? The Volendam midfielder once linked with Arsenal and Chelsea

Karan Tejwani

• 11 Oct 2022 11:45 BST
• 4 min read

Ajax 2018-19 squad had a bunch brimming with talent, with the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Donny van de Beek all coming through the team and making a huge name for themselves.

Amongst that squad was a lesser-known name who took a different path to the rest, but is now back in the Netherlands, hoping to revive his career and make the most of his talents.

That player is Carel Eiting, the midfielder who started that season with Ajax but was since replaced and has seen injury issues trouble him at clubs, but it now at FC Volendam.

So, who is Eiting and what do we know about the player’s qualities, plus, how much further can he go in the game?

What position does Eiting play in?

Eiting mainly plays in defensive midfield, but has the capability to play further up while also having played as a centre back in previous years.

How good is Eiting?

Judging by his transfer history, one would assume Eiting isn’t the most talented and lacks qualities to play at the highest level, but his is a career blighted by injuries – something he is working to improve.

At his best, he was regarded as a bright talent, a strategist on the field who is always switched on, calm and able to make decisions under pressure, and he’s hoping to show that at Volendam.

He’s also a good passer, and can shoot from distance, showing all the qualities of a good midfielder – now, he just needs a platform to show it and he may have found it at Volendam.

Working at the club under former Ajax player Wim Jonk, where former Ajax strategist Ruben Jongkind also works, he is hoping to get his career back on track after stints with Genk and Huddersfield Town.

Eiting once said: “My ambition comes first. After Ajax, I really wanted to play football abroad, with a new culture and environment, a new style of play, different manners. But at Volendam under these coaches, I think I can get the best out of myself.”

He’s committed to being at his best: in his recovery from a knee injury, he worked closely with Louis van Gaal, and speaks to him on a regular basis to get tips from the Netherlands national team boss.

What clubs are interested in Eiting?

So far, there haven’t been any serious links to him as he’s just making his way back into the rhythm of top-level football and he’s just moved to Volendam.

However, when he was younger, clubs in the Premier League such as Chelsea and Arsenal were keeping an eye on his progress – that was when he was at Ajax.

With the player having previously played in England and Belgium, he has the experience of playing abroad and would be willing to take the step if needed.

When does Eiting’s contract expire?

Eiting has a contract at Ajax until the June 30, 2024, and Volendam have the option to extend for a further year if they wish.

How old is Eiting?

Eiting was born on 11 February 1998. He is currently 24-years-old.

What is Eiting’s Instagram?

Eiting’s Instagram is careleiting. He has 81.7k followers as of October 2022.