# Donyell Malen

Donyell Malen (born 19 January 1999) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Netherlands national team. Malen started his professional career at PSV Eindhoven. At youth level he also featured for Ajax and Arsenal.

## Club career
### Early career

Malen began his career with Ajax in 2007. Despite a great deal of resistance coming from Ajax, in 2015 he left Ajax to join English club Arsenal. Malen joined up due to Arsenal being the side of his heroes Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.

### Arsenal

Malen began playing for the youth teams of Arsenal in the Youth Premier League together with the FA Youth Cup, and the UEFA Youth League in the 2015–16 season. He began to display his impressive talent during his debut season for the Gunners. He scored in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final away to Coventry City which Arsenal won on penalties. Coming off the bench, he scored against Manchester City in the semi-final of the 2016 FA Youth Cup at the Emirates Stadium. and played 30 times during the season, scoring 14 goals. During the 2016–17 season, Malen was used a great deal on the wing, and was included in the club's 2017–18 pre-season tour of Australia and China. He made his senior debut for Arsenal in a 2–0 win over Sydney on 13 July.

### PSV Eindhoven

Malen was sold by Arsenal to PSV Eindhoven in late August 2017.
Malen went on to play as a winger for Jong PSV. On 24 November Malen scored a brace in Jong PSV's 6–0 thumping of Telstar. He again netted in PSV II's 3–0 win over FC Oss on 27 November. Malen scored and picked up an assist in PSV II's 2–3 loss to Fortuna upon 4 December. He again scored in a 1–1 draw away to Go Ahead Eagles on 12 December. Malen went on to be named in Voetbal International's Jupiler League team of the week a day later.
Malen was awarded the Bronze Bull for being the Best Talent for the second period of the 2017–18 Jupiler League on 29 January 2018. He went to make his debut for PSV in a 4–0 Eredivisie win over PEC Zwolle on 3 February. Malen went on to win the 2018 Eredivisie title with PSV. He also ended the 2017–18 season as Jong PSV's topscorer.
On 14 September 2019, Malen scored all 5 goals for PSV as they thrashed Vitesse. On 29 October 2020, he scored a brace in a 2–1 away win over AC Omonia in the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League. Malen had his most productive campaign for PSV during the 2020–21 season, scoring 19 goals in 32 matches as his club finished second in the Eredivisie. He added a further 8 goals across Europa League and KNVB Cup competition and he also registered 10 assists, displaying his characteristics as a multi-faceted forward.

### Borussia Dortmund

On 27 July 2021, Malen completed a move to Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, signing a five-year deal. On 28 September 2021, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 1–0 victory over Sporting CP. In the 2022–23 season, he scored nine league goals, finishing as his club's joint top scorer alongside Julian Brandt and Sébastien Haller.
On 20 February 2024, he became the first Dutch footballer to score against a team from his country in the Champions League, since Arjen Robben in 2016, after doing so in a 1–1 draw against his former club PSV. In the 2023–24 season, he set his personal best record in Bundesliga, becoming his club's top scorer in the league with 13 goals. In the same season, he featured in the Champions League final as a substitute, where his club lost 2–0 to Real Madrid.

### Aston Villa

On 13 January 2025, 25 year-old Malen signed for Premier League club Aston Villa for an undiscosed fee, reported to be £21m plus addons. He made his debut for Villa on 26 January 2025 as a 65th-minute substitute for Leon Bailey against West Ham.

## International career
### Youth

Born in the Netherlands, Malen is of Surinamese descent through his father. He has represented the Netherlands at every age group from under-15 to senior level. He was a member of the Netherlands under-17 team that reached the semi-finals of the 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship held in Azerbaijan.

### Senior

20 year-old Malen made his senior international debut for the Netherlands on 6 September 2019, in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier against Germany in Hamburg. He came off the bench in the 58th minute and scored his team's third goal in a 4–2 victory.
Malen was a member of the Netherlands squad for UEFA Euro 2020 and made his first tournament appearance as an 89th minute substitute in their Group B opener against Ukraine on 13 June 2021. He made another appearance from the bench in the second match, assisting Denzel Dumfries' second goal as the Dutch beat Austria to ensure their progress to the knockout rounds. He was selected to start in the team's final group match against North Macedonia and assisted Memphis Depay's opening goal of the 3–0 win. Malen retained his place in the starting line-up for the round of 16 match with Czechia but was substituted after 57 minutes as the Netherlands were beaten 2–0 and eliminated from the tournament.
Malen scored three goals during 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification but was omitted from the 26-man squad for the tournament finals in Qatar.
In June 2023, Malen was part of the Netherlands' squad for the 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals. He scored the opening goal of an eventual 4–2 loss to Croatia in the semi-final and also started the third place play-off loss to Italy, where he was substituted at half time for Steven Bergwijn.
On 29 May 2024, Malen was named in the Netherlands' squad for UEFA Euro 2024. In the round of 16 match against Romania, he scored a brace in a 3–0 victory, securing his country's qualification to the quarter-finals.

## Style of play

Malen is a tremendously quick player who possesses great dribbling skills and an aptitude for prolific goal scoring. He has been likened by ex-Ajax youth coach Brian Tevreden to Chilean forward Alexis Sánchez.

## Personal life

Born in Wieringen, Hollands Kroon, Malen is of Surinamese descent through his father. Malen's father died when he was still young, and he was raised by his mother and grandparents. Malen's mother re-married when he was seven, and he then lived with his new step-father alongside his four new half-brothers and sisters. Malen recognised his grandmother as the person who most encouraged him to become a footballer, teaching him how to kick a ball when he was three years old. Nicknamed "Don" by his friend's family - Malen was a childhood friend of future Netherlands teammate Matthijs de Ligt.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 8 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Jong PSV | 2017–18 | Eerste Divisie | 22 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 13 |
| PSV Eindhoven | 2017–18 | Eredivisie | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| PSV Eindhoven | 2018–19 | Eredivisie | 31 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 11 |
| PSV Eindhoven | 2019–20 | Eredivisie | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 17 |
| PSV Eindhoven | 2020–21 | Eredivisie | 32 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 7 | — | — | 45 | 27 |
| PSV Eindhoven | Total | Total | 81 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 28 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 116 | 55 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2021–22 | Bundesliga | 27 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 9 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2022–23 | Bundesliga | 26 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 10 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 27 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | — | — | 38 | 15 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2024–25 | Bundesliga | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 5 |
| Borussia Dortmund | Total | Total | 94 | 30 | 10 | 2 | 27 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 132 | 39 |
| Aston Villa | 2024–25 | Premier League | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 203 | 83 | 16 | 3 | 55 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 277 | 107 |
* ↑ Includes KNVB Cup, DFB-Pokal, FA Cup
* 1 2 3 4 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
* 1 2 Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield
* ↑ Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and five goals in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Six appearances and three goals in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearance in DFL-Supercup

### International

    As of match played 19 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Netherlands | 2019 | 4 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 2020 | 2 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 2021 | 11 | 3 |
| Netherlands | 2022 | 2 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 2023 | 9 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 2024 | 13 | 4 |
| Total | Total | 41 | 9 |
    Scores and results list the Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Malen goal.
List of international goals scored by Donyell Malen :
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 6 September 2019 | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany | 1 | Germany | 3–2 | 4–2 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 2 | 30 March 2021 | Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar | 8 | Gibraltar | 5–0 | 7–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 7 September 2021 | Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands | 15 | Turkey | 6–0 | 6–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 11 October 2021 | De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands | 16 | Gibraltar | 6–0 | 6–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 14 June 2023 | De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands | 22 | Croatia | 1–0 | 2–4 (a.e.t.) | 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals |
| 6 | 22 March 2024 | Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands | 29 | Scotland | 4–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 7 | 10 June 2024 | De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands | 32 | Iceland | 3–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 8 | 2 July 2024 | Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany | 35 | Romania | 2–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 |
| 9 | 2 July 2024 | Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany | 35 | Romania | 3–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 |

## Honours

PSV Eindhoven
* Eredivisie: 2017–18
Borussia Dortmund
* UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2023–24
Individual
* Bronze Bull: 2017–18 Jupiler League
* Eredivisie Player of the Month: September 2019, February 2021
* Bundesliga Player of the Month: April 2023