It is five years since Manchester United signed one of the most highly rated midfielders in European football. Now he is a forgotten man.
Manchester United’s 2020 transfer window was a lesson in total dysfunction. After sealing Champions League qualification, the Red Devils spent weeks targeting Jadon Sancho, before being forced to walk away.
The window concluded with a flurry of transfer deadline day panic deals after a disastrous start to the season.
In between came the £35 million move for Donny van de Beek, a player who looked like he would be a sure-fire success.
Donny van de Beek in Manchester United shirt
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
High hopes for Donny van de Beek fell flat
It is now five years since Manchester United signed Donny van de Beek in September 2020. It was a move that came together quickly.
United pounced on Van de Beek’s availability from Ajax, after his proposed move to Real Madrid fell through.
“I am now ready to take the next step in my career and perform at the highest level and there is no higher standard than Manchester United”, Van de Beek was quoted by Sky Sports.
He also expressed excitement at getting to work under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his team.
More United News
“This team has some of the best midfielders in the world and I know that I can learn from them and also bring my own strengths to the group. Having spoken to the manager about his vision for this team, the direction that the club is going in is hugely exciting and I cannot wait to be a part of that.”
United’s interest in Van de Beek had dated back to when Louis van Gaal was boss, while the midfielder scored his first ever Ajax goal against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Molde in the Europa League.
Van de Beek was coming off a season where he reached the Champions League semi-finals, scoring a winner away at Tottenham along the way.
Everything seemed to tie together. Van de Beek checked all the boxes, yet as time went on, this move looked more and more like a panic buy.
Solskjaer had no clear plan to integrate Van de Beek into his team. The attacking spot was locked down by Bruno Fernandes, while the Dutchman could not dislodge Fred or Scott McTominay from the team, let alone Paul Pogba.
During his entire career at Manchester United, Van de Beek started only six Premier League matches.
Many fans were frustrated with Solskjaer’s lack of willingness to share the minutes around and integrate Van de Beek. It felt like he did not get a fair shot. But when he did play, Van de Beek failed to shine, and his career has taken a slow downwards trajectory.
Donny van de Beek playing for Girona
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Where Donny van de Beek is now
It was not just Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who was unconvinced by Donny van de Beek. Ralf Rangnick decided to send him out on loan to Everton.
His former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag did not see the same player he once coached, and sent him out on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt before he was sold to Girona.
Van de Beek had a mixed season in Spain with Girona in 2024/25, starting 16 games in La Liga and scoring twice.
Marca reported: “Van de Beek has had a declining presence and performance in his first season with Girona.”
They assessed his stint as “Not bad, but still far from the prospects that his signing and his start to his career at Ajax had envisaged.”
He has begun this season on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a heel injury back in May.
Now 28, Van de Beek has not made an appearance for the Netherlands international team since his move to Manchester United, missing three major tournaments, and looks to have little chance of making their World Cup squad.
Perhaps Van de Beek was a player who was always destined to fail outside the Ajax system.
Or did something go badly wrong in Manchester United’s management of him that he lost all confidence?
One way or another, the move was a total disaster, and one Van de Beek has failed to recover from.