The Eredivise has provided the Premier League with a number of talents down the years, but Ajax duo Hakim Ziyech and Donny van de Beek have both struggled to adjust to life in England.
While van de Beek's struggles at Old Trafford are well documented due to his playing time being so limited, Hakim Ziyech has had more mixed fortunes at Stamford Bridge.
The Moroccan international has popped up with some crucial goals for Chelsea, with the bulk of Ziyech's highlights in a Chelsea shirt coming in the Champions League, notching a hat-trick against FC Krasnodar and bagging a vital goal against Atletico Madrid.
However, his overall stats make for less pleasant reading, with a meagre five goals and four assists in 34 games so far under two different managers in Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel.
The drop off in form from his Ajax playing days has been so startling some reports have suggested Chelsea could look to offload him in the summer, despite parting ways with nearly £40m for him just last year.
However, former Chelsea midfielder Boudewijn Zenden has urged for fans to be patient with Ziyech.
"Give the boy some time,” he told De Telegraaf.
“They are not problems. I think adjustment time is rather normal. You have to make yourself familiar with a number of things at a new club.
“It is only a problem if you do not reach your old level after two years. Or if you want to return to the Netherlands after six months because you miss your cheese sandwich.
Zenden continued: "At Chelsea, he not only had to deal with a new style of play and different teammates, but now he was also in another country, another culture and – do not underestimate – another, much more intense competition. Even though you’re 27, that just has an impact.”
It is a similar rally cry that was recently issued for fellow former Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek, now of Manchester United.
The Ajax boardroom duo of Edwin van der Sar and Marc Overmars, two players who made the transition from the Netherlands to England with relative ease, have urged van de Beek to stay and fight for his United place despite a disastrous debut season which has seen him receive just 12 starts in all competitions.
"I think Donny should just fight, stay next year and try to claim a starting place," Overmars told NOS. "You shouldn’t leave so quickly."
While van der Sar has expressed his sadness at the situation, he echoed Overmars' sentiments "Of course I feel sad for Donny," the ex-United shot-stopper told ESPN’s Good Morning Eredivisie. "He walked the perfect path before joining United.
"But the midfield of Manchester United is too stacked, they’ve not had any injuries. It’s hard for him."
