As the summer transfer window progressed, Leander Dendoncker realized that his chances of securing regular football were dwindling at Aston Villa. Despite a brief opportunity during Christmas when he started and scored in a match against Manchester United, his prospects took a downturn. Just a month later, he was sent on loan to Napoli—a period that proved to be challenging, especially regarding his playing time. Circumstances improved temporarily when he returned to Aston Villa in the summer, with both Boubacar Kamara sidelined and Douglas Luiz joining Juventus. This led to Dendoncker being temporarily elevated in the team hierarchy, resulting in his participation in the club’s pre-season tour in the United States. However, the arrival of fellow Belgian Amadou Onana meant that breaking back into Villa’s plans under Unai Emery was not to be. Consequently, Dendoncker explored opportunities elsewhere, eventually making a return to Anderlecht.
Upon rejoining Anderlecht, Dendoncker missed their 3-0 victory over Standard Liege due to illness. However, his return was marked by acquiring the captain’s armband, displaying his leadership qualities. Reflecting on the circumstances,
Dendoncker said, “We already had a conversation at the start of the transfer window. Anderlecht already wanted me to join then. I was open to it, but decided to wait a bit longer. I wanted to review my options. At that time, I was still fighting for my place at Aston Villa. Unai Emery took me to pre-season to the United States, but it gradually became clear that my playing opportunities would be scarce.”
Returning to a familiar environment hasn’t been entirely smooth for Dendoncker. Anderlecht began their league campaign sluggishly, winning only four of their first ten matches, which led to the departure of manager Brian Riemer. The managerial position remains vacant, with Ryan Mason emerging as a surprising favorite for the role. Despite the team’s slow start, Dendoncker is expected to be a key player post-international break, thanks to his immediate impact upon his return.
Anderlecht’s CEO, Jesper Fredberg, spoke highly of Dendoncker’s return, saying, “With Leander we bring in someone with Premier League experience, who knows the club, fits in well with the project and perhaps most importantly: he clearly has ambitions to achieve something with us. Leander can also be played in different positions and that can be a great asset for us this season. I am convinced that this will be a great adventure for both Leander and the club.”
Dendoncker remains contracted with Aston Villa until 2022, having signed a four-year deal upon joining from Wolves. Although his stint at Villa didn’t unfold as expected, his start at Anderlecht has been promising. The Belgian club holds an option to make his move permanent next summer for a fee of around £7 million, a likely scenario if he maintains his early-season form.
