Derby County announced Kenzo Goudmijn as their fourth signing of the summer on Wednesday, with the Dutchman now revealing his thoughts behind the move.
The profile of Derby’s first three signings Kayden Jackson, Ben Osborn and Jerry Yates were all quite similar.
The trio have all played regular Championship football in the past, racking up a combined total of 483 appearances, while Goudmijn is a relativity unknown quantity.
Captured from Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar, the Dutch midfielder spent last term on loan at Excelsior Rotterdam but despite producing four assists in 22 appearances, was unable to prevent their relegation.
Goudmijn is an attacking midfielder, who is blessed with exceptional levels of creativity, serving up seven big chances for his teammates last term.
While at the age of 22, he’s by far the youngest of the four signings so far and has plenty of room to grow and develop into a top footballer, an opportunity he’s excited about.
Kenzo Goudmijn ‘dreams’ of playing in England at Derby County
For many footballers wanting to take their game to the next level, they see England as an ideal destination to do exactly that.
The top four divisions of English football are notoriously the toughest of any country in the world, while the Championship is arguably one of the toughest leagues to get promoted out of.
Goudmijn believes playing in England is the place to be and when first shown around, it was instantly confirmed as his ‘dream’ destination to play.
Speaking to Derby County’s official website, the Dutch maestro said: “For me and almost everybody outside of England, we know this is a place to be. When I came here for the first time, it showed me that. Everything around the place confirmed it to me. For me, it is a dream to come to England.”
The talented playmaker also spoke of his delight to seal his transfer to Derby, claiming that their interest put a ‘smile on his face’ as he aims to ‘make more history’ at the club.
He added: “I don’t know too much about the history. Of course, I have always followed football and grown up with it. When I hear the name Derby County, I know it is a really big club.
“That is why when the interest was made known, I had a smile on my face. I hope I can make more history here.”
Why Kenzo Goudmijn is a solid Max Bird replacement
Capturing Goudmijn for £600,000 just shows that quality talents can be poached from abroad for cheap.
The former Netherlands under-19 international is an exciting player to watch and most importantly, ticks all the boxes with what Paul Warne is looking for, including his athleticism, work rate and creativity.
Warne needed to replace academy graduate Max Bird, who returned to Bristol City this summer. They lost Bird’s ability to create and score chances from midfield but in the early stages of his career, Goudmijn has shown how impactful he can be from a number 10 position.
Bird produced six goals and seven assists for the Rams in League One last term and Goudmijn will be eager to replicate those level of numbers in the Championship.