Doekhi Inter
Despite the great responses received for most of the season from their defenders, Inter continues to work towards the future of its rearguard. In particular, Summer 2025 could see a complete revolution, especially given the expiring contracts of Acerbi and de Vrij.
For this reason, many names are being associated with the Nerazzurri. Among them, Danilho Doekhi, Dutch central defender for Union Berlin, continues to be followed, with the player’s agent having previously confirmed Inter’s interest.
Having had an excellent season in his second year in the Bundesliga, let’s find out more about who Danilho Doekhi is and why his style of play, with the necessary distinctions, reminds us of a “new Van Dijk”.
Doekhi Career
An Amsterdam-born player with Surinamese origins, he was born in Rotterdam on June 30, 1998. He took his first professional steps with Excelsior, his city’s team, debuting in Eredivisie on March 16, 2016, before his eighteenth birthday. The following season he was bought by Ajax, where he stayed for 2 seasons, playing only with the youth team.
With the move to Vitesse in 2018, he found his steady place in Eredivisie, racking up a total of 140 appearances in a 4-year period. At the end of the 2021/2022 season, he did not renew his contract with the Dutch team and went to Union Berlin on a free transfer.
At Union Berlin, Doekhi’s qualities began to be noticed in the big football scene. With the Germans he has made a total of 31 appearances, including Bundesliga, German Cup and Europa League. Last season also saw him score 5 goals (as many as he scored at Vitesse in 4 years).
The last season was great, with the Dutch center-back being one of the main characters of the Union Berlin’s incredible season, surprisingly finishing third in Bundesliga, behind only Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, and reaching the Europa League quarter-finals. The past season was less thrilling, with the capital’s team exiting the Champions League early, and avoiding relegation only on the last day, after a disastrous start to the season.
Doekhi Skills & Characteristics
Unavoidably, the first fact about Doekhi that jumps out is his physical strength: the Dutch center-back is 190cm tall, weighing 85kg. A strong physique that makes him dominant in aerial duels and allows him a good aggressive contrast play. Characteristics that Inter is looking for in the successor to Acerbi and de Vrij at the center of their three-man defense.
Apart from his size, however, Doekhi is also equipped with a decent reactivity in the short term, thanks also to the good positioning, which allows him to intervene promptly. It’s all these defensive skills, combined with his style of play that led the official Bundesliga website to compare him to his compatriot Virgil Van Dijk.
In addition, having grown up in the Ajax academy, the Union Berlin defender is also good with the ball at his feet. In particular, his ability to carry out accurate long passes, both horizontally and vertically, stands out.
At 25, Doekhi still has clear margins for growth and, especially in a league specialized in defence like Serie A, he could further refine his skills.
Doekhi Transfermarkt
According to the Transfermarkt website, Doekhi’s market value is currently 17 million euros. However, this figure could easily rise to 20 million, if not more, given the quality of the Dutchman’s performances. Inter, however, is currently primarily interested in the possibility of acquiring him for free in a year. Indeed, the defender’s contract with the Germans expires on June 30, 2025, a date the Nerazzurri are keeping an eye on.
Moreover, a potential market auction cannot be ruled out, especially since, as his agent reminded us, Doekhi has also been followed by Napoli and some Premier League clubs.
