Quick Facts
Biography
Donyell Malen (born 19 January 1999) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for Arsenal. Malen, who is a Forward, has also featured for Ajax as well as of present that of the Netherlands U18 Football Team.
Career
Early career
Born in Wieringen, Hollands Kroon, Malen began his career with Ajax before moving to England in 2015 to play for Arsenal, the club of his heroes Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.
Arsenal
Malen begun 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. The Dutchman started displaying his immense and immeasurable talent during this his debut season for the Gooners.
The Dutchman provided an assist in Arsenal's 2-0 triumph over Bayern Munich in their October 2015 Youth Champions League clash. He also scored with wonderful chips against that of Brighton and Hove and another vs that of West Bromwich Albion in the 2015-16 Youth Premier League.Malen also scored during that season against clubs such as Aston Villa, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Southampton for Arsenal.
Malen found himself on the scoresheet in the FA Youth Cup quarterfinal away to Coventry City which Arsenal won on penalties. As well as such, he in coming off the bench, scored against Manchester City in the semi-final of the 2016 FA Youth Cup at the Emirates Stadium.
On February 6, 2016 it was reported that Malen signed his first professional contract with Arsenal.
Malen was altogether capped thirty times during the 2015-2016 season for Arsenal wherein he found himself on the scoresheet on a total of fourteen occasions.
During the 2016-17 season, he was used a great deal upon the wing. Malen once again scored against Brighton and Hove in a 3-0 victory then found an assist for the Gooners U18s in their 1-1 draw away against West Ham United. He also got another assist which came in a 1-0 win against Norwich City and ticked off another goal in a 1-1 draw vs Aston Villa. The Dutchman again offered an assist in a 1-1 draw against FC Basel in the UEFA Youth League. Malen also got upon the scoreboard and assisted in a 3-0 rout of Leicester City as well as netting in a 3-1 victory vs that of and Southampton F.C. in January 2017. He also scored, delivered an assist and fostered a penalty, in a 4-1 win against Chelsea in February 2017 for Arsenal's U23s. In March 2017 Malen delivered an assist in a 2-0 win for Arsenal's U23s over rivals Tottenham in the North London Derby. Also in that month, Malen scored for the U23s vs Man City in a 3-3 draw at home. In April of 2017 he scored again against Sunderland in an away game that finished 2-1 to the hosts. Malen then netted a brace in a 5-1 rout of Blackburn Rovers U18s on the 29th April, 2017 away at Blackburn. He again scored against West Ham United in a 3-3 draw within May of 2017, of which helped propel Arsenal's U18s to runners up of the U18 Premier League of 2016-17.
International career
At the 2016 Under 17 Euros held at Azerbaijan, Malen in representing Holland, played in the tournament througout where Ons Oranje made it to the semi finals of such. Malen currently features for the Netherlands Under-18 Football Team. He also was called up, in December 2016, to the Dutch squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship Malen, in March 2017, scored in the 86th minute in a game against that of the Austrian U18s to equalise for the Dutch and so eventually draw the game 1-1.
Style of play
Malen is a tremendously quick player of whom possesses great dribbling skills and an aptitude for prolific goal scoring of which is illustrated in his displays for both club and country. Malen has been also been likened by former dutch footballer, Ajax youth coach and the current technical chief of Reading F.C., Brian Tevreden to that of Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez. Former Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp worked with the youngster at Ajax together with Theirry Henry of whom coached Malen at Arsenal.
Personal life
Malen is a fan of Surinamese cuisine and is as well good friends with fellow footballing dutchman Justin Kluivert.
Honours
Club
- U18 Premier League: 2016-17 Runners Up Medal
International
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2016 -Semifinalist.