Arnaut Danjuma's Rise to Stardom at Villarreal

Having spent a brief period of his childhood homeless and another period in foster care, Arnaut Danjuma Groenveld has always used the times of struggle to propel himself to the next level - whether that’s on the pitch or off the pitch.

Danjuma earned his move to Brugge in June 2018 after catching the eye while plying his trade in the Dutch second flight for NEC Nijmegen. And in his first season in Belgium, the flying winger helped Brugge finish second in the league, scored in the Champions League and netted on his full international debut for the Netherlands.

Bournemouth then came calling in the summer of 2019, and he was snapped up by the Cherries on a £13.7 million transfer. He would then go on to struggle that season, with COVID also playing a big factor.

Adapting to the professional level required at the Premier League was a big ask – he wasn’t given as much time on the ball in England as he was in the Netherlands and the physicality of the league was a major wake-up call to him.