Arsenal’s Sporting Director recently admitted a major transfer blunder regarding a former youth academy player, Donyell Malen. The club sold Malen for a mere £200,000, and he has now skyrocketed in value to an astonishing £52 million, making him a standout player in European football.
Donyell Malen’s journey began at Arsenal’s Hale End academy, where he joined at the age of eight. He progressed through the youth levels, showcasing his talent, and eventually, he became a crucial player at the club, earning an impressive £195,000 per week and even being nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
While Arsenal has successfully developed many academy graduates, some promising talents have chosen to seek opportunities elsewhere. One such talent was Folarin Balogun, who, after a successful loan spell at Reims, left Arsenal to join Monaco for £35 million.
However, the most regrettable departure for Arsenal was that of Donyell Malen. Arsenal had brought the Dutch prodigy to Hale End from Ajax when he was just 16. He had a promising start, scoring 27 goals in 67 appearances at the U18 and U21 levels. His potential was evident, and his former agent, Mino Raiola, believed he could become a “revelation” at Arsenal.
In 2017, Malen made the surprising decision to return to the Netherlands, signing with PSV Eindhoven for a reported fee of £200,000. It soon became clear that this was a mistake on Arsenal’s part, as Malen’s market value started to rise rapidly. Within just a year, his expected transfer value went from £3.4 million to £42.4 million.
Malen’s rise continued at PSV, where he became an established first-team player. He scored goals consistently in the Eredivisie, even after recovering from a complex knee injury, and he ended the 2020/21 season as the league’s second-highest scorer at just 22 years old.
His outstanding performances caught the attention of Borussia Dortmund, who paid a substantial fee of £26 million to bring him to Germany, a staggering 12,900% increase from what Arsenal had received for him. Malen’s first season in the Bundesliga, although slower than expected, was still promising, with nine goals and six assists.
In the summer of 2022, his market value reached an astonishing £52 million, representing a 25,900% increase from the £200,000 Arsenal had let him go for. Scouts and analysts lauded him as a “sizzling” talent, making it evident that Arsenal had missed out on a significant opportunity.
The regret over Donyell Malen’s sale highlights the challenges of developing young talent in football. While Arsenal’s academy has produced many successful players, some, like Malen, slip through the cracks and later achieve remarkable success on the European stage. Arsenal’s decision to let him go for a nominal fee will undoubtedly be a source of frustration for the club and its supporters, as they watch him shine in top-level football, representing a missed opportunity to benefit from a substantial transfer fee and an exceptional talent.
