He had a song before he even kicked a ball for the club. He then excelled in his first game at Goodison Park and had his name chanted after less than 15 minutes.
Life couldn’t have started any better for Donny van de Beek at Everton. Frank Lampard not only looked to be benefiting from the January transfer deadline day move, but Van de Beek looked everything like the midfielder he was made out to be.
And although the Dutchman has struggled to replicate his early performances in recent weeks, in no small part due to injury, he could still play a vital role in the club’s battle to avoid the drop with just seven games to go.
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The midfielder emerged as one of Europe’s top young talents during Ajax’s 2018/19 season. He reached double figures for goals in three straight seasons for his old club.
However, the Netherlands international has struggled to break into the first-team at Manchester United since a £39m move from Ajax in the summer of 2020. Van de Beek made just two starts in the Premier League across the entirety of 2021 and played just 380 minutes across all competitions for the Old Trafford club this season.
But now the Dutchman is set to be reunited with his old boss this summer. That is because Manchester United have appointed Erik Ten Hag as their new manager.
United confirmed the appointment of Ten Hag on a three year contract with the option of an additional year on Thursday morning. The 52-year-old will become the second Dutchman to manage the club after Louis van Gaal.
The whole situation, however, hands the Blues a fresh dilemma. There is no question that Van de Beek is an upgrade on a number of Everton’s current midfield options.
And there is probably no denying that Lampard would like to keep Van de Beek next season, especially as his recent comments appeared to suggest that the midfielder has made quite the impression on him.
"I’m really impressed. On a professional level, since speaking to him and coming and seeing him train and play, absolutely impressed with his fitness, his game sharpness,” Lampard said. "But when you watch him train it doesn’t surprise you. When I think back to the time he’s had at Manchester United, he’s a top level player.
"He was when Manchester United signed him, he was at Ajax when I went up against him. To have a tough time is not easy, there’s different ways of reacting. I’m sure it was tough, and he shows that if you keep your counsel, keep your head down and keep working in the right way, there’s always a way through it, and people will always respect you for that.
"Now hopefully there’s a chance for him to just show his talent on a regular basis, and that’s what I hope to see."
But Van de Beek will no doubt be keen to reunite with Ten Hag this summer. It would be wrong to suggest that the former Ajax star would not give his all for the Blues between now and the end of the season, but he could be forgiven for having one eye on a return to Old Trafford in the coming months.
The whole situation is far from ideal for Everton, both short-term and long-term. But given how the Blues’ season has unfolded, nothing should really surprise any Evertonian at the minute.
