Sometimes players find their peak later in their careers and for former Southampton midfielder Jordy Clasie, that appears to be happening at AZ Alkmaar.
That’s at least if Johan Boskamp is to be believed, as he is full of praise for the midfielder today in comments relayed by [Voetbalkrant](https://www.voetbalkrant.com/nieuws/2025-03-11/johan-boskamp-heeft-verrassende-uitspraak-over-speler-die-bij-club-brugge-mislukte-beste-speler-van-de-eredivisie).
Clasie has been playing for Alkmaar since 2019 after joining the Dutch side from Southampton on a free transfer.
His time in England had been nothing short of disappointing for him and the Saints, who paid €15m to sign him from Feyenoord in 2015.
He had arrived at St Mary’s with a big reputation after coming through the ranks at Feyenoord and impressing in the Netherlands but failed to show that at Southampton managing just 49 appearances in total and two goals and one assist in them.
He was eventually shipped out to Club Brugge on loan in 2017 and then Feyenoord in 2018 before being allowed to leave on a free in 2019 and joining Alkmaar.
The Dutch club have proven to be an ideal place for him as he’s gone on to establish himself as a key player, helping them to develop their youngsters as the older man of the team at 33-years-old.
Boskamp has certainly been left impressed by what he’s seen and thinks the Southampton flop is now the best player in the Eredivisie.
“I didn’t expect him to reach this level. He even had a hard time at Excelsior, but against Spurs he was really classy,” he said.
“I think Clasie is currently the best player in the Eredivisie. I think he plays really fantastically.
“He directs everyone and goes to get every ball from the central defenders. He is the boss of the team on the field, you can see that in everything. You don’t have that at Feyenoord and Ajax.”