Luuk de Jong has been one of the most successful strikers in the Netherlands’ recent history. He has played in some of the top leagues in Europe, including the Dutch Eredivisie, English Premier League, LaLiga and Bundesliga. The PSV legend retired from international football in 2022 to focus on club football.
Now into his 11th season in Dutch football, De Jong is still proving to be the difference-maker for PSV. The 33-year-old forward is ageing like a fine wine and is at the top of the scoring charts. A four-time Eredivisie winner and the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League winner with Sevilla has started the 2023–24 season on a high. Here is a look at what this Dutch forward has added to his game in the last few years of his career.
Return to PSV
Luuk de Jong left PSV at the end of the 2018-19 season to join Spanish giants Sevilla. He spent two seasons at the club and then was loaned out to Barcelona. After three seasons in Spain, the Dutchman returned to his native country.
Luuk de Jong returned to lead PSV’s attack in the 2022–23 season. He represented the club in 24 Eredivisie matches, five UEFA Champions League matches, and five UEFA Europa League matches. He went on to score 17 goals in 34 games.
Averaging 2.65 matches per 90 minutes, the forward attempted 74 shots, and 48.6% of them were on target. Luuk de Jong is a tall player and is dominant with his head. The above viz shows that De Jong has found space in and around the six-yard box to score a goal. His threat in the air is what teams count on. De Jong won 53.8% of his aerial duels last season.
The 33-year-old added eight assists to his 17 goals in these three competitions. Of his 23 shots and assists, eight were converted. A tall player like Luke de Jong often brings down the ball and sets up his teammate. This is what he did successfully on eight occasions.
Red hot form in 2023-24
Luuk de Jong has been sensational in the 2023–24 season. He already has 11 goals in 11 league and UEFA Champions League games combined. The shot average is much better at 3.32 per 90 minutes, and the accuracy rate is decent at 47.1%.
Once again, the player has found the back of the net from in and around the six-yard box. His aerial duels win percentage is also better at 57.3%.
The 33-year-old has already provided four assists and is just halfway behind his last season’s tally. De Jong has 14 shot assists in these games, and the passes have been similar to last season.
Luke de Jong has been sensational in the 2023–24 season. He is scoring goals for fun. His highest tally in the league is 28 goals. Averaging one goal a game in the current league campaign, De Jong has a chance to break his personal record.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
