DAYLON CLAASEN: bio and profile

Ajax Cape Town product Daylon Claasen is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s hopes for the future.

This skilful, attacking midfielder, currently playing at Lierse S.K. in Belgium, has been tipped to become a prominent player in the Bafana Bafana’s rebuilding plans in the years ahead.

Daylon signed for Ajax in 2008 after being on trial at Real Madrid and RCD Espanyol.

Many clubs were eager to sign the youngster, but at the time restrictions for non-EU players did not allow the Spanish clubs to do so.

Boosted by such interest in the player the Eredivisie side accelerated the process and convinced Claasen to follow the footsteps of compatriots McCarthy, Mokoena and Pienaar.

The 19-year old South Africa attacking midfielder was voted best player of the 2009 CAF U-20 African Cup of Nations in Rwanda, and appeared in the starting eleven in all three matches played at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009.

It was there that Daylon Claasen convinced Parreira of his outrageous talent which resulted in a first senior call-up in November of 2009 when South Africa faced Japan and Jamaica.

In the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the youngster formed part of Parreira’s pre-selection squad and went to both training camps in Brazil and Germany respectively.

Frustrated at his limited opportunities at Ajax Amsterdam, Claasen transferred to newly promoted Belgian Premier League club, Lierse S.K. in August 2010 and was immediately thrust into the starting XI. His performances earned him another call-up to the South African senior national team for their African Nations Cup qualification match against Niger.

In August 2013 Claasen signed for Polish Ekstraklasa League side Lech Poznan.

Personal sponsor: Nike

Name: Daylon Claasen
Nationality: South Africa
Language(s): English, Afrikaans, Dutch
Age: 23
Date of birth: 28.01.1990
Place of birth: Klerksdorp (South Africa)
Marital status: Single
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 63 kg
Position: Central/Right/Left attacking midfielder
Shirt number: 22
National team: 2 A-caps/0 goals, capped at U17, U20 levels
Current club: Lech Poznan
Former club(s): Ajax Cape Town, AFC Ajax Amsterdam, Lierse SK
Contract: 30.06.2013

Statistics current season:

Games played in: 5
National Team:
Assists:
Goals: 1

Career

SEASON	CLUB	COUNTRY	GAMES	GOALS	ASSISTS
2002-2007	Ajax Cape Town	South Africa	8	–	–
2007-2010	AFC Ajax Amsterdam	Netherlands	–	–	–
2010-13	K.Lierse SK	Belgium	79	9	4
2013 –	Lech Poznan	Poland	5	1	–
TOTAL	92	10	4