Feyenoord Seal Agreement With Exciting 16-Year-Old

Blackburn Rovers have lost academy product Luca Dahl Tomasson to Dutch top-flight side Feyenoord, as reported by the Lancashire Telegraph. 

The name might sound familiar to supporters because Luca is the son of Jon Dahl Tomasson, the former Rovers manager who is now in charge of the Swedish national team.

Luca is a 16-year-old attacking midfielder who has been in Rovers’ academy setup for several seasons. However, before any talk of a full pro deal could be instigated, he exits Ewood Park for the illustrious surroundings of De Kuip, a ground that saw its occupants, known as De Club aan de Maas, finish second in the Eredivisie last season.

It’s reported the youngster will be part of the Dutch club’s Under-17 squad next season, which Erik van der Ven manages.

“Feyenoord is a special club for me in many ways,” he told Feyenoord’s club website. “As a little boy I regularly came to De Kuip to watch my father’s matches.

“The fact that I can now follow in his footsteps makes it extra special for me. I can’t wait to play in the Feyenoord shirt myself and show what I have to offer.”

Prior to his spell with Blackburn, Dahl Tomasson was in the youth setup at Excelsior Rotterdam, the club where his father started his management career.

Jon Dahl Tomasson scored 52 goals in 112 outings for Denmark, including against England in wins in 2003 (3-2) and 2005 (4-1). As well as appearing for Newcastle, he bagged goals for Heerenveen, Stuttgart and Milan, winning Serie A and the Champions League in 2003.

His time in charge of Blackburn was beset with issues. He guided the side to seventh in the Championship, missing out on the play-offs by a single point in 2022/23, but last season was a horror show. Rovers were relegation-haunted through to February 2024, when they finally relieved the head coach of his duties, drafting in John Eustace.

His stock was not severely affected; Sweden promptly appointed him as their coach following their failure to qualify for Euro 2024, having seen him win the Allsvenskan twice during his time at Malmo.

Site Opinion

Excelsior and Blackburn were two clubs Luca was able to thrive at under his father, but he won’t be able to follow him to Sweden, so why not do the next best thing and pick a former club! Joking aside, the Eredivisie offers a slightly different challenge to the Championship, with a more technical approach, which suits younger players.

We’re not expecting to see Dahl Tomasson Junior in action for Feyenoord this season, but it is more likely he’ll break throguh there than in the Championship, a high-pressure division with a lot at stake and clubs with plenty to lose.

However, if he turns out like his father, this will be one that got away for Rovers.