Nathan Aké

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Nathan Aké
Nathan Ake 2013.jpg
Aké playing for Chelsea in 2013
Personal information
Full name Nathan Benjamin Aké[1]
Date of birth (1995-02-18) 18 February 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth The Hague, Netherlands
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Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Chelsea
Youth career
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)
International career
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 20 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 May 2016 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:32, 29 March 2016 (UTC)

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

Club career

Chelsea

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] 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.[19]

International career

Aké has represented the Netherlands at every youth level since his under-15 début in 2009, making 54 appearances in total.[20] 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.[21]

Personal life

Nathan Aké's parents is from Ivory Coast.[22]

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.[23]

Club statistics

As of match played 15 May 2016[24]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chelsea 2012–13 3 0 1 0 0 0 2[lower-alpha 1] 0 0 0 6 0
2013–14 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2014–15 1 0 1 0 2 0 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 5 0
2015–16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 5 0 2 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 12 0
Reading (loan) 2014–15 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Watford (loan) 2015–16 24 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 28 1
Career total 34 1 5 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 45 1
  1. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
  2. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Champions League.

Honours

Club

Chelsea Reserves
Chelsea

International

Netherlands

Individual

References

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  6. "Middlesbrough 0–2 Chelsea" BBC Sport. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
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  15. Every Chelsea player to get a Premier League medal says Jose Mourinho
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External links