The so-called ‘weaker’ sides of the Premier League have always given a home to the young players from the bigger clubs. They have been vital in nurturing them to make their mark or created stars of their own. Providing regular game time allows these youngsters to perform at their best. They impress the elite clubs to enhance their career as well as their reputation. One such side has been Bournemouth who has brought a young Nathan Ake to everyone’s attention.
The Dutchman, Nathan Ake, has been effective and has grown immensely since he joined the Cherries from Chelsea. The young boy rose through the ranks of Chelsea youth academy and played a key role for the Blues to win the 2012 FA Youth Cup. His exotic youth career gave him a chance at the senior squad where he debuted on the boxing day of 2012.
How Nathan Ake Started Off His Rise To The Top?
He seemed surplus at Stamford Bridge and went on multiple loan spells in search of first-team football. He played for the Championship club Reading on loan for a month, followed by two full-season loan spells at Watford (2015-16) and Bournemouth (2016-17) respectively, ultimately signing for the latter permanently in 2017. However, Chelsea, being wary of the talent they were letting go of, added a buy-back clause that gave them the right to refuse any future transfer. He was, in fact, heavily linked to return to Stamford Bridge in this summer window but instead, he signed a five-year deal with Manchester City.
Nathan Ake, being only 25-year-old brings a lot to the table. In his four years with the Cherries, he has made a total of 121 appearances and scored 11 goals, which is quite impressive for a defender. He is a typical ball-playing central-back with profound technical abilities. Pace, acceleration, work-rate and tackling are the attributes that make him one of the stand-out young defenders in the Premier League. He is the kind of defender who goes the extra mile to improvise attacks and goal-scoring opportunities.
Lost Between Chelsea And Bournemouth; Road To Recovery
Being an intelligent player, Ake is an extraordinary game reader who always finds himself on the ball. He is always aware of his surroundings and anticipates opponents’ moves. To add to that, his great positioning sense allows him to tackle and block attacks most effectively. He likes to play short passes which are more precise. He is also a good decision-maker who knows exactly when and who to pass and did so with over 90% accuracy this season. Additionally, he possesses the ability to play incisive balls into the opposition half, if and when required.
Another impressive attribute that Ake offers is his versatility. Alongside central defence, he can play as a left-back or in the defensive midfield. During his time at Watford, he was primarily deployed as a left-back and his performances earned him the Young Player of the Season award. But his time at Bournemouth saw him play in all the three positions, maintaining a consistent performance. He is a player who can adequately fill in, wherever required.
Ake has improved himself greatly during his tenure at Bournemouth under manager Edie Howe. He developed an ability to defend in tight spaces and deep into his penalty box against quick attacking teams. He makes almost zero errors, concedes very few fouls and is outstanding in 1v1 defending. These facts indicate the level of calmness and composure he plays with, making him a reliable player. Despite his slender stature, he possesses physical strength to dominate on the ground. However, he struggles significantly imposing himself in the air and his aerial duel success rate of below 50% inside his own penalty area makes it his only notable weakness.
The Move To Manchester City And Bigger Things
Ake is a high accomplishing player winning a decent number of awards. During his debut season (2012-13) for Chelsea, he won the Europa League. Further, his contributions earned him the Young Player of the Season award. He was also included in Chelsea’s winning team of 2014-15 League Cup and the runner-up team of 2016-17 FA Cup despite being out on loans. His Bournemouth spell was the most impressive where he won the Supporters Player of the Season (2017-18).
Internationally, he represented the Netherlands in every level since his U15 debut in 2009 and was a part of the squad that won the UEFA European U17 Championship in 2011 and 2012. He also captained the U17 and U19 teams. He made his senior debut in 2017, earning 13 caps and scoring two goals.
There is no doubt Ake’s style of play matches City’s. Playing for Bournemouth, Ake is accustomed to defending against possession-based sides with fast and technical strikers. This gives him the advantage to shine at a club which holds more possession. It thus allows him to utilize both his defending and ball-playing skills. Also, him being left-footed makes him a natural replacement for Laporte. This is thus beneficial in adding a powerful option to City’s back-line.
Ake displays his skills effortlessly and always remains focused. The level of confidence he plays with shows how established he already is as a defender. He is a smart player who knows how to extract the best out of himself. He is an ultimate cool-headed defender and is a worthy asset to every team he plays for.
