Manchester United made a significant financial investment to acquire Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, and the striker proved his worth with a stunning display during their match against Fulham.
Joshua Zirkzee secured 3 points for United in their EPL opener
Coming off the bench in the 61st minute, Zirkzee scored a crucial 87th-minute winner to secure a 1-0 victory for Manchester United in their opening Premier League game of the season.
Despite initially struggling to make an impact on the match, Zirkzee displayed his exceptional talent and ability when it mattered most.
With time running out and both teams deadlocked, he expertly redirected Garnacho’s pass into the bottom corner to secure the win for his team.
The Dutch international’s debut goal for Manchester United highlighted the impact he can have on the team and justified the club’s decision to invest in him.
Who is Joshua Zirkzee?
Joshua is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and the Netherlands national team.
Is Joshua Zirkzee from Nigeria?
Joshua Zirkzee has dual citizenship, being born in the Netherlands to a Dutch father and having Nigerian heritage from his mother.
His age
He was born in Schiedam to a Nigerian mother and a Dutch father in 22 May 2001. He is currently 23 years old.
Joshua Zirkzee’s club stats
Zirkzee’s football journey began at the age of five, when he joined VV Hekelingen after his family relocated to Spijkenisse.
Impressing at a young age, he then moved to the youth team of Spartaan ’20 in 2010. In 2017, he made the big move from the Feyenoord academy in the Netherlands to Bayern Munich’s youth setup.
On 1 March 2019, Zirkzee made a spectacular debut for Bayern Munich II by scoring a hat-trick.
The very next day, he scored the winning goal for the under-19 team in a 2-1 victory over 1. FC Nürnberg. In January 2021, Zirkzee secured a loan deal to Italian club Parma, with an option to buy included.
Unfortunately, his loan spell was cut short after sustaining an LCL injury in April, limiting him to just four substitute appearances.
In August 2021, Zirkzee was loaned to Anderlecht before making a permanent transfer to Bologna in August 2022.
He delivered an impressive performance at the club, ending the season as Bologna’s leading goal-scorer with 11 goals and five assists, qualifying them for the Champions League group stage.
On 14 July 2024, Premier League club Manchester United announced the signing of Zirkzee on a five-year contract.
What number shirt does he wear?
Joshua Zirkzee, of Nigerian descent, wears the number 11 shirt.
Joshua Zirkzee’s national team
Zirkzee, born in the Netherlands to a Dutch father and Nigerian mother, represents the Netherlands as a youth international player.
He was called up to the senior team’s squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament in Germany on 12 June 2024.
On 6 July, he made his international debut during a 2-1 victory over Turkey in the quarter-finals, becoming the third player to debut for the Netherlands during a European competition after Martien Vreijsen (Euro 1980) and Cody Gakpo (2020).
Has Joshua Zirkzee won the Champions League?
Yes. The 23-year-old won the European most coveted trophy with Bayern Munich in 2019/20 season.
Zirkzee’s achievement
Joshua had his most prosperous years so far during his stint with Bayern Munich. His achievement started with Bayern Munich II in the Regionalliga Bayern during the 2018-19 season.
His success continued as he played a crucial role in Bayern Munich’s triumphs in various competitions, including the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, DFL-Supercup, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup in the 2019-20 season.
Furthermore, Joshua’s outstanding skills were acknowledged when he was honored with the Serie A Best Young Player award in the 2023-24 season.
Style of play
Zirkzee is a versatile forward. His height and strength enable him to be dominant in the air as well as playing with his back to goal, while he holds up the ball. Despite his tall frame, he has excellent technique and dribbling abilities which also allow him to drop deeper into a more traditional playmaker position.
