Leeds United have secured an experienced campaigner in the form of Vurnon Anita from former Championship rivals Newcastle United, who will be playing in the Premier League this season. The Dutch international has played an important role so far for the Magpies and the Whites will expect him to do the same with them in the forthcoming season, helping them to make a way back into the top tier.
Anita had spent seven seasons at the Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam before being bagged by the Toon and started playing for them in 2012. Since then, he has been an integral part of the Newcastle line-up and has been one of the most prominent figures for their squad in the midfield and at times in defence. He made 27 appearances in the Championship for them last season and has been preferred by Rafa Benitez, the current man in charge at St James Park, to play as a defensive midfielder.
The 28-year-old has been known for his strong presence in the midfield and create a defensive screen in front of the backline, thus to keep the opposition strikers at bay. The Dutch player has been versatile as a midfielder and has been known to make contributions in a central role as well.
Anita is reportedly the sixth signing secured by Leeds United this summer, with the other deals being secured for players like German goalkeeper Felix Weidwald from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, central midfielder Mateusz Klich from FC Twente, last season’s loanees winger Hadi Sacko and defender Pontus Jansson being signed on new permanent deals, and young midfielder Madger Gomes from Liverpool.
The Dutch midfielder is supposed to bring the much-needed strength to the team that it has been lacking in the ending stages of the last season, which barred it from making it into the top six of the Championship, thus missing out on a spot in the playoffs. The fans were much disappointed with the result and that also led to the departure of the former Whites manager Garry Monk from the Elland Road club.
However, new manager Thomas Christiansen has been confident about the fact that the new signings, including Vurnon Anita, will help the club to prosper in the upcoming season and is looking forward to finding the right combinations in the attack, defence and midfield during the pre-season friendlies and training sessions to avoid any more goof-ups throughout the season and make it into one of the most successful seasons for the Whites in the recent times.
