Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League - Villa Park Wolverhampton Wanderers Leander Dendoncker during the Premier League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xLaurencexGriffiths/NMCxPoolx 54328224
Wolves confirmed that Leander Dendoncker has signed a new contract with them (source – Wolves official website). The new deal will keep the Belgian at the club until 2023, with the option of a further year.
Dendoncker played for local outfit FC Passendale and he was signed by Roeselare in 2003. Anderlecht, one of Belgium’s biggest clubs, signed him as a youth player in 2009. Dendoncker has made 171 appearances for the club, scoring 11 times and providing four assists.
During his time at Anderlecht, Dendoncker has won the Belgian Jupiler Pro League twice and the Belgian Super Cup twice. He initially joined Wolves on loan in 2018 but the deal was made permanent in 2019. So far, he has made 95 appearances, scoring 8 goals.
The versatile 25-year-old can play at centre-back or as an anchorman in the midfield. He can also play at the heart of the midfield either in a 4-3-3 or in a defensive midfield partnership in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Dendoncker is a Belgium international, who has been capped 12 times. He made his international debut in 2015 against France. In the 2018 World Cup, he made a single appearance against England in the Group G.
Wolves have one of the better midfield trios in the league. Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves and Leander Dendoncker have formed a good partnership for the team that has made the club into one of the more dangerous sides in the league.
While all eyes have been on Neves and Moutinho for their attacking contributions, it is Dendoncker who plays the most vital role of those three. His presence in front of the defence allows both Moutinho and Neves to play further forward in the final third and join the team’s attack.
Let’s not forget his contributions in defence when he had to play as a centre-back for a while last season. Wolves have done the right thing in renewing his contract for the next few years as he is a vital part of the team. They are an ambitious club and keeping the likes of Dendoncker will be important to their plans for the future.