Steven Bergwijn arrived at Tottenham as the club’s marquee addition of the January transfer window, the winger arriving from PSV Eindhoven amid much fanfare following some starring performances in Dutch football.
The Netherlands international scored a stunning debut goal against Manchester City and is the latest of his countrymen to sign for the north London side, so we’ve decided to look back at the impact of Spurs’ previous Dutch arrivals.
Here are our ratings of the six other Dutchmen to have played for Tottenham in the Premier League era…
?✨ – “Stevie Wonder!”@Carra23 was joined by #THFC‘s newest signing Steven Bergwijn to analyse his stunning debut strike in yesterday’s win against #MCFC! ?
Could he be the Premier League signing of the January transfer window? ✍ pic.twitter.com/cXgJuDUpJt
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 3, 2020
Willem Korsten
After being impressed with the winger’s performances during a brief loan spell at divisional rivals Leeds United, Spurs would swoop to capture the signing of Korsten in a £1.5m deal from Vitesse Arnhem in 1999.
Hopes had been high that Korsten’s pace in wide areas would bring a new dimension to George Graham’s side, though injuries would blight his career as he made just nine league appearances during his debut season.
He would fare little better in his second campaign, making 14 appearances in the Premier League, though he would score three league goals including two spectacular strikes on the final day of the 2000/01 season in a 3-1 victory against Manchester United.
That would prove to be Korsten’s final game as a professional footballer, however, retiring in October of that year due to persistent hip injuries, aged just 26.
Rating: 2/10
Mounir El Hamdaoui
Signed as a promising young talent after impressing at Excelsior, El Hamdaoui would follow compatriot Martin Jol to White Hart Lane but struggle to make an impact, failing to make a single competitive appearance for the club.
He would spend the majority of his single season in English football on loan at Derby County, scoring three times in nine league appearances before returning to Holland at Willem II.
His later years would see him turn out for clubs such as AZ, Ajax and Fiorentina, being named as Dutch Footballer of the Year after firing the former to the Eredivisie title in 2009, finishing as the top scorer in Holland’s top flight.
Currently playing for Qatari club Al Kharaitiyat SC in the twilight years of his career, the Rotterdam-born El Hamdaoui would choose to represent Morocco at international level having changed his allegiances from the Netherlands.
Rating: 0/10
Edgar Davids
One of the great midfielders of his generation, Davids would win a wealth of major honours during spells at some of Europe’s leading clubs, winning six league titles and the Champions League during a career spent a the likes of Ajax, Milan, Juventus, Barcelona and Inter.
In truth, by the time the ‘Pitbull’ arrived in English football he was on the decline, though would still prove to be a fan’s favourite and valuable member of the Spurs squad during his two seasons in north London.
Davids would help Spurs to two consecutive fifth-placed finishes during his time in the Premier League, scoring once in 40 Premier League appearances before returning to Ajax.
Rating: 5/10
Rafael van der Vaart
The classy attacking midfielder would arrive on deadline day 2010, joining from Real Madrid in a cut-price deal having been squeezed out of the Bernabeu by the Galactico arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Kaka the previous summer.
Van der Vaart’s signing would prove to be one of the most inspired of Harry Redknapp’s transfers during his time at Spurs, the Dutchmen instantly becoming a fan’s favourite and starring in an exciting side containing the likes of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale.
He would spend just two seasons at the club before rejoining former side Hamburg, scoring 28 goals in 77 appearances in all competitions.
Later describing his time at Tottenham as the best period of his career, Van der Vaart would prove a hugely popular figure, his reputation with the supporters enhanced by a fine goalscoring record in north London derbies.
Rating: 8/10
Michel Vorm
Having impressed during a three-year spell in the Premier League with Swansea City, Tottenham would secure the services of Dutch international goalkeeper Vorm from the Welsh side in 2014 as they sought competition and back-up for first-choice Hugo Lloris.
Vorm would make 47 appearances in all competitions over the next five seasons and prove to be a reliable deputy for club captain Lloris, rejoining the club earlier this season as cover after initially being released at the expiry of his contract last summer.
Rating: 3/10
Vincent Janssen
Premier League historians will tell you that purchases from Dutch football are often high-risk, with the Eredivisie’s biggest stars proving hit and miss upon their arrival in English football like signings from few other domestic leagues.
For every Ruud van Nistelrooy and Luis Suarez, there has been an Afonso Alves or Spurs flop Vincent Janssen.
Janssen had finished as the top goalscorer in Dutch football with 31 goals in all competitions during his single season stay at AZ Alkmaar, prompting Spurs to pay a fee of £17m to bring the young forward to the Premier League.
He would prove to be a major disappointment following the switch, however, scoring just six goals in 42 appearances for the club – four of those from the penalty spot.
His struggles would see him deemed surplus to requirements and he would join Fenerbahce on loan, eventually joining Mexican side Monterrey on a permanent deal in 2019.
Rating: 1/10
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