Daley Sinkgraven

Daley Sinkgraven (born 4 July 1995) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Spanish club UD Las Palmas.

Daley Sinkgraven
Sinkgraven with Bayer Leverkusen in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-07-04) 4 July 1995 (age 29)
Place of birthAssen, Netherlands
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s)Left-back, Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Las Palmas
Number18
Youth career
2002–2008MVV Alcides
2008–2013Heerenveen
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2013–2015Heerenveen35(4)
2015–2019Ajax63(1)
2015–2019Jong Ajax9(1)
2019–2023Bayer Leverkusen59(0)
2023–Las Palmas10(0)
International career
2012Netherlands U173(0)
2012Netherlands U182(0)
2014Netherlands U191(0)
2014–2015Netherlands U215(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 June 2024

Club career

Heerenveen

Sinkgraven started playing football with MVV Alcides from his hometown Meppel. He ended up in the youth academy of SC Heerenveen. Sinkgraven had a breakthrough season in 2013–14 playing 17 games while starting five of them. He made his debut in the 2–2 draw against Roda JC Kerkrade on 18 January 2014 by replacing Hakim Ziyech. On 28 March 2014, he extended his contract until the summer of 2017.[2] On 22 November 2014, he scored an own goal in a 4–1 away loss to Ajax.[3] Sinkgraven's great performances for Heerenveen caught the eye of many giant English clubs. Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United were all very interested in buying the teenage Sinkgraven.[4][5]

Ajax

Sinkgraven playing for Ajax in 2015

On 30 January 2015, after excellent performances for SC Heerenveen, it was announced that Sinkgraven had joined Ajax for a fee of €7 million at the tender age of 19 years old, making him the club's most expensive acquisition since Miralem Sulejmani, who had also made the transfer to Ajax from Heerenveen.[6] He signed a five and a half year-contract with the club and was given the number 8 shirt previously worn by Lerin Duarte, who was sent on a six-month loan spell to Heerenveen in return.[7] He made his debut for the first team of Ajax in the starting lineup on 5 February 2015 in a 1–0 home loss to AZ.[8]

Sinkgraven helped guide Ajax to the final of the 2016–17 Europa League where they lost to Manchester United. Sinkgraven was also a part of the Ajax team that won the Dutch Eredivisie title and the Dutch KNVB Cup during the 2018–19 season. In that same season, Sinkgraven also helped Ajax reach the semi-finals of the Champions League where they lost to Tottenham, after knocking out Real Madrid and Juventus in the previous rounds. Sinkgraven was hampered by injuries for a lot of the time, while at Ajax. In his four and a half years at Ajax, he missed 101 games through injury and he was out injured for a total of 738 days.

Bayer Leverkusen

On 17 June 2019, Sinkgraven signed for Bayer Leverkusen on a four-year contract, to rejoin his former Ajax coach Peter Bosz.[9][10] On 22 May 2023, Leverkusen announced that it would not be renewing Sinkgraven's contract, making the player a free agent at the end of the season.[11]

Las Palmas

On 11 July 2023, recently-promoted La Liga side UD Las Palmas announced the signing of Sinkgraven on a two-year contract.[12]

International career

Sinkgraven has been capped at various youth levels, notably representing the Dutch U21, U19 teams. He has received call-ups for the senior national team but has not been capped as of July 2021.

Personal life

Sinkgraven is the son of Dutch football coach Harry Sinkgraven.[13]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 April 2023.[14][15]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinental[a]Other[b]Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Heerenveen2013–14Eredivisie1500020170
2014–1520410214
Total354100020384
Ajax2014–15Eredivisie1000040140
2015–161602060240
2016–172411070321
2017–1840100050
2018–19900020110
Total6314019000861
Jong Ajax2015–16Eerste Divisie5151
2017–184040
Total9100000091
Bayer Leverkusen2019–20Bundesliga1302060210
2020–212201040270
2021–221202040180
2022–231200000120
Total5905014000780
Career total1666100330202116

Honours

Club

Ajax[16]

References