IRISH-QUALIFIED MIDFIELDER Dan Crowley has left Arsenal to sign a three-year deal with Dutch club Willem II as he goes in search of regular first team football.
The 19-year-old, who signed for the Gunners from Aston Villa as a trainee, was born in Coventry and has represented both England and Ireland at underage international level. He last lined out for England U19s in October 2015.
During his three years at the Emirates Stadium, Crowley failed to make a senior appearance for the club and spent time on loan at Barnsley, Oxford United and Go Ahead Eagles in Netherlands.
And now he’s moving to the Eredivisie in a bid to further his development with Willem II.
“I believe in myself”, Crowley told Mail Online.
“I know I’ll be a Premier League footballer and if that’s at Arsenal then great but if the manager doesn’t think he can give me that chance then I’ll have to go elsewhere.
“I’m fine with that and I’ll still respect the boss. But I don’t want to stay for the sake of it.”
Crowley, whose playing style has seen him compared to Jack Wilshere, returned to London Colney for pre-season training this summer but wasn’t included in the Arsenal squad currently touring Australia and China.
Bundesliga II side Hannover also expressed an interest in Crowley who was resigned to playing for the Arsenal under 23s in the upcoming season after not being included in Arsene Wenger’s first team plans.
It’s understood that Crowley spoke with Go Ahead Eagles manager Robert Maaskant before agreeing to join Willem II.
The youngster scored twice in 16 appearances during an impressive loan spell in Deventer last season.
Crowley’s Arsenal contract expires next summer and he follows another academy star in Chris Willock by opting to leave the Gunners for a European side.
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