What are ten things to know about Myron Boadu?
He is AS Monaco’s fourth signing this summer. After Alexander Nübel, Ismail Jakobs and Jean Lucas at the start of the week, it is now Myron Boadu’s turn to join the Monegasque squad. Coming from AZ Alkmaar, he has a solid amount of experience despite his 20 years, with 88 games played (38 goals) with a club from whose academy he graduated. A goalscorer in his first match for the Netherlands’ senior team, the young strike has signed on to join the Rouge et Blanc attack for the next five seasons. Here are ten things to know about the man who becomes the eighth Dutchman in the history of the Principality club and will wear the number 9.
Born in Amsterdam to Ghanaian parents
Born in 2001 in Amsterdam to Ghanaian parents, Myron Boadu has dual Dutch and Ghanaian nationality. However, having never been called up by the Ghanaian federation, the youngest of the family – he has an older brother and sister – finally decided to declare for Netherlands.
A supporter of Ajax as a child
But before representing the Oranje, Myron lived throughout his childhood a stone’s throw from the Johan Cruyff Arena in the Bijlmermeer district of Amsterdam. No doubt having heard the chants of the fans during the matches, he became a supporter of Ajax Amsterdam. He would also practice every day with his brother, Reginald, before joining FC Bijlmer at 10 and then moving to SC Buitenveldert, the two being academies in Amsterdam.
Joining AZ Alkmaar at 13 then a first professional contract at 16
Seeing his talent emerging at the forefront of the attack at SC Buitenveldert, many clubs were interested in him including Ajax Amsterdam, FC Utrecht and AZ Alkmaar. Although he did do a training camp at his favorite club, he eventually joined the ranks of Alkmaar in 2013, at the age of 12. Progressing consistently through the age groups during his development there, he made his debut with the Dutch side aged 15 years and 7 months in the 2016-2017 season. A symbol of precocity and with the confidence of the club’s leadership, Myron Boadu signed his first professional contract at the age of 16.
🦊💥#WelcomeMyron pic.twitter.com/fgrmVAEryN
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 4, 2021
Youngest goalscorer in AZ Alkmaar’s history
After recovering from a knee injury sustained at the start of the 2017-18 season, Myron Boadu played his first minutes late in the season against PEC Zwolle. Two appearances later, in the 2018-19 season, the Dutch striker would score his first goal for AZ Alkmaar at 17 years and 7 months, making him the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history — another symbol of his great precocity.
Vice-champion of the Eredivisie
During the 2019-2020 season, he played his first full season for the first team. And what a season! Leading the line in a 4-3-3, he was his team’s leading scorer with 14 goals, while also delivering 6 assists in 24 games. He and his team finished runner-up in the Netherlands, level on points with Ajax Amsterdam but second owing to their lower goal average. It was a second place finish made all the more bitter as the season did not come to its natural end because of COVID-19, even though they had won their two matches against Ajax (1-0 then 2-0), two games where Myron had scored a goal.
He will wear the number 9
Like at AZ Alkmaar, the 20-year-old forward will be number 9 on the back of his shirt. He succeeds Wissam Ben Yedder in wearing it, who chose to take number 10 during the summer. Before them, Radamel Falcao, David Trezeguet, George Weah and Dado Prso have all notably worn this prestigious number in their Monegasque career.
In the top 50 young players
Quick and comfortable with both feet (14 goals with his right and 16 with his left), Myron Boadu is sure to arouse the interest of observers of the game. In May 2020, according to a ranking made by Football Talent Scout, he was one of the 50 most promising young players born in 2001 or later, sitting in twelfth place, a ranking which includes Benoît Badiashile, positioned 39th.
11. 🏴Billy Gilmour
12. 🇳🇱Myron Boadu
13. 🇫🇷Adil Aouchiche
14. 🏴Jude Bellingham
15. 🇦🇷Thiago Almada
16. 🇫🇷Tanguy Kouassi
17. 🇪🇸Pedri
18. 🇪🇸Eric Garcia
19. 🇮🇹Sebastiano Esposito
20. 🇳🇱Naci Ünüvar pic.twitter.com/g7yHumzWvs— Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) May 7, 2020
First cap, first goal
His excellent season saw him be called up in November 2019 by Ronald Koeman for the first time with the Netherlands’ senior team. He marked his first cap against Estonia by coming on at halftime in place of Memphis Depay. In that game, he would even score his first goal in his team’s 5-0 victory. The right-footed forward became the first player born in the 21st century to play for and score for the Dutch national team.
A goalscorer at the U-21 Euros against France
While he was not selected with the Netherlands to play in Euro 2020 despite an impressive season (15 goals and 1 assist in 31 games), he nevertheless participated in the final stage of the U-21 Euros. Drawn in the quarterfinals against a France side featuring Aurélien Tchouameni, Benoît Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Youssouf Fofana, Myron scored twice, qualifying his team for the next round. (2-1).
76 on Fifa 21, 77 on PES 2021
Regarding this last point, his “virtual” performance is perhaps of more interest to fans of AS Monaco Esports — Myron is credited with a rating of 77 on PES 2021 and a potential of 91. In FIFA 21, he received a rating of 76 with a potential of 86. Grab your controller!
📲 𝙻𝚎𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚞𝚒𝚜 𝟽𝟸𝚑 :
"𝑨𝑵𝑵𝑶𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑩𝑶𝑨𝑫𝑼 !" 🤯⌚️ 10h30 : 𝙛𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙨 😏#WelcomeMyron pic.twitter.com/ICCRCEVTLg
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 4, 2021
