Ranking Barcelona’s 22 Dutch players from De Jong to Cruyff

Barcelona’s love affair with the Netherlands goes back nearly 50 years and continues to this day with last summer’s signings of Memphis Depay and Luuk de Jong.

Any Dutch player comes to Barcelona with certain expectations attached to them – ever since a certain Ballon d’Or winner arrived from Ajax in 1973, bringing total football with him.

And we’ve rated all 22 of Barcelona’s Dutch footballers, ranked from worst to best.

Barca supporters have never warmed to De Jong and probably never will – but there’s an argument that his limitations have been exaggerated by a disgruntled fanbase.

A deadline day signing from the Sevilla bench in 2021, the striker could never dream of replacing the outgoing Messi and he performs much the same function at the Camp Nou.

He’s struggled for goals this season but, with a physical presence that worries Spanish defenders, De Jong has the capability of raising his tally before the end of the current campaign.

And, with an exemplary attitude and application in the face of limited opportunities, he hasn’t been the worst signing in the world.

Joining from PSV in 2010, Afellay ultimately didn’t amount to much at Barcelona. Or Stoke for that matter.

Nevertheless, he was responsible for one of the most important assists in the club’s history. On for the injured Pedro in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, he came up big with the cross for Messi’s first goal in a 2-0 win.

Ronald and Frank de Boer joined Louis van Gaal’s Barcelona from Ajax in January 1999, but it’s safe to say one of the twins is remembered more fondly than the other.

Ronald contributed to the 1998-99 title win but scored just twice in 37 appearances, something of a letdown after arriving with a reputation as a