Who is Leander Dendoncker? All you need to know about Wolves’ latest signing
According to Sky Sports, Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed Belgium international Leander Dendoncker from Anderlecht. The Belgium international has joined on an initial season-long loan deal. The move to Molineux Stadium will be made permanent in 2019 for a fee in the region of £12million.
There have been a string of eye-catching transfers to the newly-promoted club who finished nine points off at the summit of the Championship last summer. Dendoncker is the sixth signing to join Nuno Espirito Santo’s side this year. He joins Adama Traore, Rui Patricio, Jonny Castro Otto, Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez.
After a six-year absence, the West Midlands club have strengthened their squad ahead of their top-flight opener at home against Everton. While Wolves‘ minimum achievement this term could be retaining their Premier League status, on paper, the Fosun-owned club has the quality and depth to challenge for a top-half finish.
Who is Wolves’ latest signing Leander Dendoncker?
The versatile 23-year-old can play at centre-back or as the anchorman in defensive midfield. He can play at the heart of the midfield either in a 4-3-3 or in a defensive midfield partnership in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Dendoncker is a Belgium international, who has been capped six times. He made his international debut in 2015 against France. In the 2018 World Cup, he made a single appearance against England in the Group G.
Dendoncker was born in Passendale, Belgium. The youngster played for local outfit FC Passendale and he was signed by Roeselare in 2003. Anderlecht, one of Belgium’s biggest clubs, signed him as a youth player in 2009. Dendoncker has made 171 appearances for the club, scoring 11 times and providing four assists. He has played 20 Europa League games scoring once, a powerful header against Manchester United. The 23-year-old has also played 10 Champions League games and arrives at the Molineux with continental experience.
During his time at Anderlecht, Dendoncker has won the Belgium Jupiler Pro League twice and the Belgium Super Cup twice. With a height of 6ft 1in, he is aerially strong and has an excellent passing range. Dendoncker has the stamina required to play at the heart of the midfield in a 4-3-3 formation. Often tasked with patrolling the area in front of his centre-backs, he has the energy to burn.
On an average, the Belgian international covers a distance of 11 kilometers per game. He can also play as a box-to-box midfielder, given his impressive dribbling skills and an eye for an incisive pass.
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A specialist destroyer, he is an expert at winning the ball back and starting off forward runs from deep. Dendoncker might be slow with his movement but he has great organizational skills and often uses his physical stature to great effect. He can intercept oppositions and play the ball out of defence as well.
Signing Leander Dendoncker is another shrewd piece of business by Wolves. He could make the difference between dropping straight back into Championship and a top-10 finish.
