Micky van de Ven was hardly a well-known figure when the Australian persuaded the then 22-year-old to leave Bundesliga side, Wolfsburg, for the Premier League and the bright lights of London.

Essential to Spurs’ defensive framework

At the time of signing, Postecoglou even suggested van de Ven would be fundamental to the defensive system he planned to implement.

Any skepticism from the North London fans was quickly dispelled as the centre-back demonstrated his aerial prowess, physical strength, and pace across the pitch.

Just five months after signing with the Lilywhites, he was recorded as the fastest player in the Premier League, sprinting at 37.38 km/h against Brentford in late January 2024.

His defensive qualities were, of course, the primary reason for his acquisition.

Progressing season by season

Since joining, van de Ven has attempted 91 tackles in all competitions, winning 59. His success rate ranges from 53.8% this ongoing season to 71.4% in his first campaign in North London, showcasing his tackling skills.

His debut season (2023/24) also saw him sweep all of Spurs’ Player of the Season awards, earn his first cap for the Netherlands, and secure a spot in their Euro 2024 squad.

Although he has regained possession 305 times for the team, he has also lost it 363 times, partly due to his tendency to surge forward from defense to initiate attacks.

Recently, against Copenhagen, we witnessed the threat he poses when running at full speed if not stopped early.

Candidate for goal of the season

His powerful run from near his own penalty area to the edge of Copenhagen’s before unleashing a fierce shot is surely one of the Champions League’s standout goals of the season.

Only the second time in his Tottenham career he completed a take-on that ended with a goal, the run was breathtaking.

Surprisingly, van de Ven has only made three fast breaks from the back during his entire time in North London.

Nevertheless, this shouldn’t distract from the fact that he has given the ball away many times, an issue that clearly needs improvement.

Outstanding passing accuracy

Tottenham have conceded 10 goals in the Premier League this season; while not disastrous, there is room for improvement. This responsibility lies with van de Ven as much as with his defensive partner and captain, Cristian Romero.

One area where he clearly excels is his passing precision.

Modern defenders must be athletes and fighters, but also confident players capable of accurate, purposeful distribution from the back.

Since joining Spurs, van de Ven’s pass completion has only dropped below 90% once, during the UEFA Super Cup againstParis Saint-Germain.

Even then, an 88.2% completion rate against Europe’s best team is commendable.

So far this season, only 6.7% of his passes have been backward, and out of 653 passes in 2025/26, 601 have been successful.

Tottenham’s most vital player?

A frequently overlooked aspect is the Dutchman’s discipline. Only 15 yellow cards in his Spurs career for a player known for his competitiveness is impressive.

A player who consistently gives his all in every match and, as seen after the recent defeat to Chelsea, shows clear dissatisfaction when team or individual standards fall.

Whether he is currently the club’s most important player is debatable, but he is definitely one of the squad leaders. Having signed for an initial £34.5m by the Lilywhites, he is arguably one of the best value signings in recent Premier League seasons.

Thomas Frank now benefits from his services, though Postecoglou will always hold a special place in van de Ven’s regard.

“We are happy for him (Postecoglou) and happy for the team,” he said after the Europa League victory over Man Utd.

“His critics may keep talking, but I no longer care. We proved them wrong by winning a trophy. They can say what they want. He has made history.”