Nathan Aké

Nathan Aké

Aké playing for Chelsea in 2013
Personal information
Full name Nathan Benjamin Aké[1]
Date of birth (1995-02-18) 18 February 1995
Place of birth The Hague, Netherlands
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Bournemouth
(on loan from Chelsea)
Number 5
Youth career
0000–2007 ADO Den Haag
2007–2011 Feyenoord
2011–2012 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012– Chelsea 5 (0)
2015 → Reading (loan) 5 (0)
2015–2016 → Watford (loan) 24 (1)
2016– → Bournemouth (loan) 5 (2)
National team‡
2009–2010 Netherlands U15 5 (0)
2010–2011 Netherlands U16 6 (3)
2011–2012 Netherlands U17 27 (3)
2012–2013 Netherlands U19 8 (3)
2013– Netherlands U21 22 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:32, 4 December 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:07, 11 October 2016 (UTC)

Nathan Benjamin Aké (born 18 February 1995) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for Bournemouth on loan from Chelsea, and for the Netherlands under-21 team as a defender or as a midfielder.

Club career

Chelsea

Early career

Aké agreed to join the Chelsea youth system from Feyenoord in late 2010 at the age of just 15.[3] He had played at Feyenoord since the age of 12 after joining the club from ADO Den Haag.[4]

He made his Premier League début on 26 December 2012 against Norwich City as a 17-year-old, replacing Juan Mata in added time at the end of a 1–0 win at Carrow Road.[5] He made his first start for the club in the FA Cup on 27 February 2013, in a 2–0 win against Championship side Middlesbrough.[6] He was chosen to start in a defensive midfield position for Chelsea in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash with Rubin Kazan in Russia on 11 April, a match that finished in a 3–2 loss but resulted in a 5–4 aggregate victory.[7] Aké was an unused substitute for Chelsea in the Europa League final against Benfica in Amsterdam on 16 May, which Chelsea won 2–1.[8] He was voted Chelsea's Young Player of the Year on 16 May,[9] and made his first Premier League start three days later in the 2–1 win against Everton at Stamford Bridge on the last day of the campaign.

On 8 August 2013, Aké signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, lasting until 2018.[10] Following his permanent promotion to the first team, on 21 October 2014 Aké made his Champions League debut from the bench, coming into the game for Cesc Fàbregas in the 60th minute during a 6–0 home win over Maribor, and provided an assist for Eden Hazard's second goal.[11]

Loan to Reading

On 25 March 2015, Aké was loaned to Championship club Reading for a month,[12] making his first of five appearances against Cardiff City in a 1–1 draw ten days later.[13] Although he only made one league appearance for Chelsea in the whole season, as a substitute in a 3–0 loss at West Bromwich Albion on 18 May,[14] manager José Mourinho stated that he would receive a winner's medal for his contribution to the team that season.[15]

Loan to Watford

On 14 August 2015, Aké completed a season-long loan move to newly promoted Premier League team Watford,[16] after having signed a five-year contract with Chelsea.[17] Eleven days later, he made his debut for the Hornets in a League Cup second round game against Preston North End, which ended in a 1–0 defeat for his side.[18] Aké played his first league game coming off the bench against Newcastle United 19 September 2015, helping the Hornets hold on for a 2–1 win.[19] He scored his first senior goal on 20 December, opening a 3–0 win over Liverpool at Vicarage Road in the fourth minute, after Ádám Bogdán dropped a corner kick.[20]

During his time with the Hornets, manager Quique Sánchez Flores primarily deployed Aké as a left-back.[21] His performance and work ethics earned him the Watford's Young Player of the Season award.[22]

Loan to Bournemouth

On 29 June 2016, Aké joined Bournemouth on loan for the 2016–17 campaign.[23] On 21 August 2016, Aké made his Bournemouth debut in a 1–0 away defeat against West Ham United, replacing Jordan Ibe due to team-mate, Harry Arter's dismissal after a challenge on Cheikhou Kouyaté.[24] Following the defeat at West Ham, Aké made his full debut against Morecambe in the Second Round of the EFL Cup on 24 August 2016.[25] On 19 November 2016, in his first league start, Aké scored his first goal for Bournemouth in a 1–0 away victory over Stoke City.[26]

On the 4th of December 2016 Bournemouth played Liverpool and overturned a 3-1 deficit with 15 minutes to go to win the game 4-3, Aké scoring the winning goal after 93 minutes. This was his 3rd Premier League goal and the 2nd against Liverpool.

International career

Aké has represented the Netherlands at every youth level since his under-15 début in 2009, making 54 appearances in total.[27] He has captained both the U-17 and the U-19 sides. Aké was selected into both squads that won the UEFA European Under-17 Championships in 2011 and 2012 in Serbia and in Slovenia, respectively.[28]

Style of play

Aké has been praised for his versatility, being able to play at left-back, centre-back and in defensive midfield, which has been attributed to a good work ethic, professionalism and gifted technique. His playing style and appearance have led to comparisons to former Dutch legend and Chelsea player Ruud Gullit.[29]

Aké stated that even though he has played as a defender in recent seasons, he sees himself as a holding midfielder and that his favorite position is in the midfield.[30]

Club statistics

As of match played 4 December 2016[31][32]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chelsea 2012–13 3010002[lower-alpha 1]00060
2013–14 10000000–10
2014–15 1010201[lower-alpha 2]0–50
Total 5020203000120
Reading (loan) 2014–15 500000––50
Watford (loan) 2015–16 2413010––281
Bournemouth (loan) 2016–17 520020––72
Career total 39350503000523
  1. ↑ Appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
  2. ↑ Appearance(s) in the UEFA Champions League.

Honours

Club

Chelsea Reserves[33]
Chelsea[34]

International

Netherlands[34]

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Clubs submit retained and released lists". Premier League. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "Player Profile: Nathan Aké". Premier League. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "Chelsea spark Feyenoord fury as Blues lure 15-year-old defender Nathan Ake to London". Daily Mail. 22 Dec 2010.
  4. ↑ "Nathan Aké, oud Wilhelmus Jeugd speler, definitief naar Chelsea FC" (in Dutch). V.V. Wilhelmus. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  5. ↑ Phillips, Owen. "Norwich 0–1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "Middlesbrough 0–2 Chelsea" BBC Sport. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "Chelsea struggle to finish off Rubin Kazan but reach semi-finals". The Guardian. 11 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "Benfica 1 Chelsea 2". The Sun. 15 May 2013.
  9. ↑ http://www.chelseafc.com/javaImages/94/36/0,,10268~11941524,00.jpg
  10. ↑ "New Deal for Aké". Chelsea F.C. 8 Aug 2013.
  11. ↑ "Didier Drogba scored his first goal since rejoining Chelsea as they recorded their biggest Champions League win with a dominant victory against Maribor at Stamford Bridge.". BBC Sport. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  12. ↑ "Royals Sign Nathan Ake on Loan". Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Nathan Ake handed Reading debut". Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "West Brom inflicted a third league defeat of the season on champions Chelsea in an eventful game at The Hawthorns.". BBC Sport. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  15. ↑ Every Chelsea player to get a Premier League medal says Jose Mourinho
  16. ↑ "OFFICIAL: Aké Joins Hornets On Loan". Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  17. ↑ "New deal for Aké". Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "Championship Preston reached round three of the Capital One Cup as Marnick Vermijl's goal saw off Premier League Watford, who finished with 10 men". Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  19. ↑ "Newcastle United vs. Watford 1 - 2 (9/19/15)". 19 September 2015.
  20. ↑ Barlow, Matt (20 December 2015). "Watford 3-0 Liverpool: Nathan Ake capitalises on Adam Bogdan howler and Odion Ighalo strikes to condemn Jurgen Klopp's men to defeat as Hornets move a point off the Premier League top four". Daily Mail. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  21. ↑ "Premier League boss explains why he has signed this Chelsea defender". Daily Star. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  22. 1 2 Barlow, Matt (18 May 2016). "Watford: END OF SEASON AWARDS: Gomes Named 2015/16 Player Of The Season". Watford Official Site. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "Ake loaned to the Cherries". Chelsea F.C. 29 June 2016.
  24. ↑ "West Ham United 1-0 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  25. ↑ "Team news: Morecambe vs AFC Bournemouth - Ten changes from West Ham United defeat". A.F.C. Bournemouth. 24 August 2016.
  26. ↑ "Stoke City 0-1 Bournemouth". BBC Sports. 19 November 2016.
  27. ↑ "N. AKÉ". SOCCERWAY. Retrieved 26 Sep 2014.
  28. ↑ "Captain Aké learns from Chelsea stars". UEFA. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  29. ↑ "Ruud boy: Chelsea youth star Ake is a mini Gullit with his dreadlocks and cool head". Daily Mail. Retrieved 14 Feb 2013.
  30. ↑ "Premier League boss explains why he has signed this Chelsea defender". Daily Star. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  31. ↑ Nathan Aké profile at Soccerway
  32. ↑ "Nathan Ake". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  33. ↑ Nathan Aké Profile, Chelsea, retrieved 22 August 2016
  34. 1 2 Nathan Aké profile at Soccerway
  35. ↑ "Chelsea Annual Awards". Retrieved 22 August 2016.
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