Who is Ajax defender Jairo Riedewald, the 20-year-old on Crystal Palace’s radar?

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Jairo Riedewald looks like he is on his way to the Premier League this summer as he looks to revive his promising career. Telegraaf report that he is set to link up with his former manager Frank de Boer at Crystal Palace for a fee around €8 million (£7.13 million), which is a bargain in the modern football economy.

Another report from the Netherlands this morning from VI suggested that Newcastle and Everton have also shown an interest in the Dutchman, stating that the fee would be around €10 million. These are two conflicting stories, but it does look like he is heading to England and the Premier League, with Selhurst Park his most likely destination.

Who is he?

Riedewald has come through the famous Ajax academy and he made his first step into senior football under De Boer, becoming the youngest debutant in the club’s history. He has played over 50 times for the first team and has earned three caps for the Netherlands since making his debut. If he does leave Amsterdam this summer, it will be his first transfer in professional football and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to a new environment.

The problem that he has faced is that he is a victim of his own versatility. The 20-year-old is capable of playing as a left-back, centre-back and a defensive midfielder. Although this can be seen as a positive, he hasn’t been able to develop in a single position and that has hindered his development as a player.

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Style of play

The Dutch international may not have been able to find his best position, but he has the technical attributes to become a very good player. His passing is arguably the strongest part to his game, as he is comfortable on the ball and capable of launching attacks from deep. This isn’t a surprise considering he has come through at Ajax, but it will be why De Boer wants him at Palace. He will want to play a possession-based style at Selhurst Park and Riedewald will be able to fit straight into that.

It isn’t clear what position he will be used in if he was to move to Palace. His aerial prowess needs to improve if he was to do well at centre back in England as he can be easily bullied by physical strikers. This is something that can be addressed and will improve given time, but it would be a risk to field him in the heart of defence immediately. It could be that the left side of a back three could be where his future lies, but Palace may not opt for that system. His intelligence makes up for what he lacks in physicality and, with experience, he will develop into a fine player.

Will he be a good signing for Crystal Palace?

For a fee between €8-10 million, he would be a great signing considering the modern market. Ultimately, he has the potential to become a player that could be sold on for a lot more. At the age of 20, there are few defensive players showing more promise. Although he couldn’t find a regular place in the Ajax team last season, he remains a good player and could be one of the best signings made this summer, based on value for money. De Boer will know how to get the best out of him and he will ease the transition to a possession-based style at Crystal Palace.