Player Talent Scout: Myron Boadu

Having earned their place in the forthcoming Euros with a draw against Northern Ireland on Saturday, the Netherlands gave a platform to some of their brightest young prospects in the qualifier against Estonia last night.

AZ duo Calvin Stengs and Myron Boadu made their debuts for Oranje, with 18 year-old Boadu becoming the first player born in the 21st century to score for the Netherlands as he notched the final goal in the 5-0 drubbing. It has been a meteoric rise for Boadu who only made his debut for AZ in May 2018.

Born in Amsterdam to Ghanaian parents, Boadu joined AZ’s academy in 2013, and made his debut for AZ reserves in 2016, going on to score 6 in 9 appearances as they won the Tweede Divisie title. A knee injury postponed his debut for the first team until May 2018, and the following season he started to make a name for himself.

His became the youngest player to score for AZ in the Eredivisie against NAC Breda in August 2018, and he continued to show his eye for goal, scoring twice more in the next three games, before suffering a broken ankle against Feyenoord, which ruled him out for seven months.

This season Boadu has established himself as the first choice central striker for AZ, scoring 14 times already in all competitions. He made his Netherlands under-21 debut against Portugal in October, scoring twice, and having found the net for the full international side last night he has played his way into the thoughts of manager Ronald Koeman ahead of what should be a successful Euro 2020 for the Netherlands.

Blessed with great movement and the ability to finish with either foot, Boadu could be an interesting option off the bench for a Dutch team that are now blessed with a plethora of talented young players.