As of the 19th of July it seems almost certain that Stefan de Vrij will become the latest player to leave Feyenoord this summer, after Graziano Pelle, Daryl Janmaat and Bruno Martins Indi. He has been strongly linked with a move to Lazio of Serie A and the latest info seems to be that the Rome club have bid  €7m for the 22-year old while Feyenoord are holding out for a figure closer to €9m.

This disagreement in transfer could leave a small gap for another club, such as Manchester United, to swoop in and sign the player, but this is unlikely because reports are saying de Vrij is keen on Lazio. Stefan de Vrij missed only 2 games in the Eredivisie last season and contributed 4 goals which helped his side to finish 2^nd and earn a Champions League qualifying spot. However it now appears that de Vrij will join the growing list of names in Feyenoord’s ‘talent drain’.

De Vrij was born in Ouderkerk aan den Ijssel, a small village in the province of South Holland. He is the son of Jan de Vrij who played for local team vv Spirit. When he was 10 years old he was talent spotted by Feyenoord as a midfielder and was later turned into a defender. He developed rapidly and in July 2009 he signed his first professional contract with Feyenoord. In 2012 he replaced Ron Vlaar as the captain but was stripped of the captaincy last season after a poor run of form.

The Oranje international has now made 19 appearances for the national side; with his only international goal coming at the 2014 World Cup in the infamous 5-1 win against then World Champions Spain. Together with former club teammates ‘Concrete Ron’ Vlaar and Bruno Martins Indi he formed a rock solid partnership that conceded only 4 goals in 7 games at this World Cup, which is the same as World Champions Germany.

Overall he is an accomplished centre-back who is comfortable on the ball, very strong and is good in the air both attacking and defending. Whatever club he goes to, Lazio or somewhere else, as long as he gets significant game time then he certainly has a bright future. It looks like the only way is up for another Feyenoord youth product.

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