Back at the end of the 2020/21 season, it looked like Manchester United’s under-18s team had three unstoppable prospects.
Charlie McNeill, Dillon Hoogewerf, and Alejandro Garnacho struck up a connection as the young Red Devils demolished Middlesbrough by a score of 8-1.
Garnacho was a late substitute, scoring and assisting one, with Dillon Hoogewerf stealing the show with a hat-trick, and an assist.
This capped an impressive run from former Ajax academy talent Hoogewerf, who ended that season with seven goals in five games. While Garnacho has gone onto become a first team star, his path has been very different.
Three years on, Hoogewerf is still searching for the magic that saw him deliver 30 goal contributions (18 goals and 12 assists) in 35 under-18s games.
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What happened to Dillon Hoogewerf
The very next season, Dillon Hoogewerf stepped up to the under-21 side. His time with the under-18s had been curtailed by the Covid season, before kicking on in 2020/21.
With a little more added competition for places, Hoogewerf found his game time more inconsistent, and despite scoring in his third under-21 game against rivals City, and a EFL Trophy game against Bradford, he didn’t kick on.
By time the January 2022 transfer window came around, Hoogewerf made an exit to Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Hoogewerf’s exit was not a complete surprise given that there did not seem to be a pathway being created for him to jump up to the first team, and nor did his under-21 displays at the time merit it.
Hoogewerf went into ‘Gladbach’s under-19s team, and then their reserves, but at no point over the past two seasons did he look like recapturing the magic form he showed he was capable of in 2020/21.
The former Dutch youth international scored just two goals during his time in Germany, and now 21, he has a fresh start.
Dillon Hoogewerf signs for Vitesse
Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem have announced Hoogewerf has signed a permanent contract with them after impressing on trial as a free agent.
Referencing his time at Manchester United where he ‘scored like crazy’, Vitesse claim the forward is desperate to rebuild his career after an unhappy spell in Germany.
The club website write: “He sought his salvation in Arnhem. Here he quickly managed to convince the technical staff of his qualities. The attacker wants to breathe new life into his career at Vitesse.”
He added: “I want to be important for Vitesse and let my feet do the talking. From the wing I want to provide a lot of threat, goals and assists. We have had a good preparation and now it is time to show that to our supporters.”
Vitesse were relegated from the Eredivisie last season after finishing bottom, ending with just six points, after being dealt an 18 point deduction after financial difficulties.
It was the first time they had been relegated from the Dutch top flight in 35 years, and they have had to prove they are financially equipped to operate this coming season.
Hoogewerf, who has signed a two-year deal with an option of a third, adds: “The club is very much alive, we are all very much looking forward to Friday.”
Vitesse kick off their new start in the Dutch second division against Telstar on August 9 at 7pm.
Theo Janssen, Vitesse chief scout, believes Hoogewerf can be a useful asset for the club. He explains: “He is a fast winger and very agile. Dillon showed very quickly that he has the necessary qualities.
“We are very happy to have Dillon on board. For him too, the move to Vitesse is an excellent opportunity to put himself in the spotlight and show himself to the general public.”
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