Anfernee Dijksteel has signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal at Middlesbrough, the club have confirmed.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old’s impressive performances so far this season have landed him a new deal at the Riverside.<\/p>\n
After a difficult start to life at Middlesbrough, the arrival of Neil Warnock at the Riverside has helped Dijksteel revive his career at the club.<\/p>\n
While a long-term injury and the Coronavirus pandemic meant his development faltered, the 24-year-old failed to make an appearance in a Middlesbrough shirt for seven months.<\/p>\n
However, Dijksteel featured four of the club’s last six, as Warnock steered them away from relegation.<\/p>\n
Since then, the Dutchman’s form has improved dramatically. He has featured all 11 of Middlesbrough’s league games so far this season, helping them to sit in seventh place in the Championship. Perhaps more impressively though, he has been apart of a side that has conceded just five goals during that time.<\/p>\n
Dijksteel’s rejuvenation can be seen his defensive statistics. On average, so far this season he has made 2.2 interceptions<\/a> per game, up on his average of just 0.6 per game last season. The Dutchman has been tough to beat defensively, and has formed part of a blockade that is the Middlesbrough defence.<\/p>\n Speaking about the defender committing his future to the club, manager Neil Warnock said<\/a>: “I’m absolutely delighted.<\/p>\n “He really deserves it,” continued Warnock.<\/p>\n “He’s worked ever so hard since I came\u00a0here, and I’ve been really pleased with the improvement he’s shown in his overall game.<\/p>\n “He’s a great signing for Middlesbrough for the next few years.”<\/p>\n Neil Warnock will be hoping that his defender can continue his impressive form after the international break, Middlesbrough host Norwich City<\/a>, before facing Derby County at the Riverside Stadium again.<\/p>\n Main PhotoWhat Was Said?<\/h3>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>