Dumfries ´can´t wait to get started´ after replacing Hakimi at Inter

Denzel Dumfries is relishing the chance to impress at Inter after the right-back joined the Serie A champions from PSV.

Inter confirmed the signing of Dumfries shortly after revealing striker Edin Dzeko had completed his switch from domestic rivals Roma.

Dumfries, who was impressive for the Netherlands at Euro 2020, scoring twice during the tournament, is believed to have been purchased for a fee of €12.5million plus add ons.

The 25-year-old has signed a four-year deal with the Nerazzurri.

Dumfries appears set to be the like-for-like replacement for Achraf Hakimi, who was sold to Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the transfer window.

Hakimi’s sale was required as Inter looked to ease financial difficulties. The club have also seen star striker Romelu Lukaku depart to Chelsea for a reported £97.5m (€115m).

“The feeling is amazing,” Dumfries told Inter TV. “I’m very happy to join the champions of Italy. It’s a big opportunity for me and I’m happy to be here.

“I’m a wide defender and I like to attack a lot. I think I’ll fit in at Inter as they play with five at the back, as I have done with the Netherlands.

“I know which Dutch players have played here before. It’s an honour to join them on the list.

“I hope we can have a great season, maybe win another league title and do well in the Champions League. I can’t wait to get started.”

| ANNOUNCEMENT

Denzel Dumfries joins #Inter!

https://t.co/ydudKXQEYI#WelcomeDenzel #IMInter pic.twitter.com/mtLZOlZWhZ

— Inter (@Inter_en) August 14, 2021

Dumfries excelled for Frank de Boer’s Netherlands team at Euro 2020, despite the Oranje’s disappointing exit to the Czech Republic in the round of 16.

Playing as a wing-back, Dumfries started all four of his country’s matches, playing 315 minutes in total.

Inter look set to continue with a back three under new boss Simone Inzaghi, who used a similar system at Lazio, meaning Dumfries will likely slot straight into the role that Hakimi occupied last term.

Dumfries has big shoes to fill, though. Hakimi played in 37 league matches in 2020-21, with only Lautaro Martinez (38) featuring more in the top flight under Antonio Conte during the campaign.

Hakimi scored seven times, a total only bettered in Inter’s ranks by Martinez (17) and Lukaku (24), while he also provided eight assists.

His crossing was a particular threat, registering an accuracy of 25.52 per cent from 145 crosses from open play. Based on Euro 2020, this is something that Dumfries will need to improve, given none of his six crosses were classed as successful.

However, his presence in the area was often enough to help the Netherlands break down defences, and only Memphis Depay (24) had more touches in the opposition box than Dumfries.

Dumfries also contested (58) and won (28) more duels than any other Dutch player at Euro 2020, recording a success rate of 48.28 per cent, a figure that is not dissimilar to Hakimi’s rate of 50.05 per cent from 333 duels in Serie A last season.