Who Is Mitchel Bakker – Biography, Personal Life, Career and Net Worth
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| Mitchel Bakke - Photo PSG |
Who is Mitchel Bakker - Biography
Mitchel Bakker (born 20 June 2000) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the Netherlands U21 national team.
Born in Purmerand, a city in North Holland in June 2000, Bakker is the son of former Ajax, Groningen and Haarlem winger Edwin Bakker, who hung up his boots in 1990. Like his father before him, he was soon making the half-hour drive south to Amsterdam, joining Ajax's fabled youth academy at the age of 10.
Bakker shares a hometown with Martin Koeman, the father of current Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman and his elder brother Erwin, all of whom were full internationals for the Netherlands during their playing careers.
Purmerend may only have a population of 80,000, but fellow professional footballers Olaf Lindenbergh, Yuri Rose, Edwin Zoetebier and Mitchell Dijks were all born there, as was Killien Jungen, the Cannes striker who also happens to be Bakker's cousin.
Mitchel Bakker Family
A father who became a taxi driver
Those who know his pedigree, however, might fear that his family history would repeat itself. Because Mitchel Bakker, trained at the school of the great Ajax Amsterdam, followed in his father’s footsteps. In the 80s, left lane striker Edwin Bakker also followed the football lessons of the prestigious Dutch club. He even scored during his first match in the Dutch Cup against Haarlem (6-0), in what will remain the baptism of the game of a certain Marco Van Basten. Edwin Bakker’s first and last match with the club from the Dutch capital since he will then be loaned to Willem II, before being transferred to Groningen where he will have to end his career at 23 because of a broken leg. His fact of glory will remain the Under 20 World Cup disputed with the young Oranje and always Van Basten, in 1983, in Mexico.
“Then I had to do something else. I became a taxi driver. Later, I specialized in transporting people from the business world, in the luxury segment, ”explained the father of the Parisian player a few years ago to the Dutch media AD Sportwereld. Did he use his talent in the best possible way? ” No, I do not think so. But frankly, that does not frustrate me at all, “he added.
Disrupt the hierarchy in defense
Edwin Bakker is not the only one in the family to have failed to break through at the highest level. Trained at AS Monaco and today player of AS Cannes (Nationale 3), after a quick stint at AS Erzgebirge Aue in German D2, Killien Jungen, 25, the cousin of Mitchel Bakker, also experienced cascading disillusions. “Succeeding like my cousin is no longer possible. I am aware of having let the right car go through, ”said this solid center-forward two years ago in an interview in Nice-Matin.
With two games on the clock with Ajax Amsterdam, which he left free last summer, Mitchel Bakker has already done better than his father in terms of statistics. It now remains for him to dig his Parisian groove and upset the hierarchy of left-backs of PSG. Because for the moment, and until proof to the contrary, he retains the third place behind Juan Bernat back in training on Monday, after a calf pain, and Layvin Kurzawa who has just extended his contract until 2024. If the Spaniard remains one step ahead, the French now faces a tough competitor. A colossus who has already had to fight against his family heritage to see a place in the sun.
Mitchel Bakker Net Worth
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| Photo archyde |
Mitchel Bakker earns £20,000 per week, £1,040,000 per year playing for Paris Saint-Germain as a D (LC), WB (L). Mitchel Bakker's net worth is £1,289,080.
Career Earnings:
| Year | Weekly Wage | Yearly Salary | Club | Position | League | Age | Contract Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | £20,000 | £1,040,000 | Paris Saint-Germain | D (LC), WB (L) | Ligue 1 | 20 | 30-06-2023 |
| 2020 | £900 | £46,800 | PSG | D (LC), WB (L) | Ligue 1 | 19 | 30-06-2023 |
| 2019 | £2,900 | £150,800 | AFC Ajax | D (LC), WB (L) | Eredivisie | 18 | 30-06-2019 |
| 2018 | £900 | £46,800 | AFC Ajax | D (LC), WB (L) | Eredivisie | 17 | 30-06-2019 |
| 2017 | £90 | £4,680 | AFC Ajax | D (LC), WB (L) | Eredivisie | 16 | 29-06-2019 |
Mitchel Bakker Career
After working his way up through their age group teams and concluding his youth career with a Dutch second-tier title with Jong Ajax in 2018, it seemed only a matter of time before Bakker would make his top-flight debut at the Johan Cruyff Arena. But PSG had other ideas.
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| Photo Marca |
The nine-time French champions signed Bakker as a promising prospect in 2019, but when fellow left-back Juan Bernat suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament on the opening day of last season, former Mainz and Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel - now a UEFA Champions League winner with Chelsea - made him his first choice in the position ahead of Layvin Kurzawa.
Although his playing time cooled down after Mauricio Pochettino succeeded Tuchel in the PSG dugout, Bakker nonetheless concluded the 2020/21 campaign with 40 appearances in all competitions to his name.
His two assists last term are the story of a player still working on his final delivery after getting into dangerous attacking areas, although his three provisions in six games for the Dutch U21s in 2020 suggest the young Bakker has it in him.
He may stand at 6'1"-tall and have the physical profile of a centre-back, but Bakker likes to get up and down the left flank, his anticipation, quick control and turn of pace making him an attacking asset moments after winning back possession.
The fact Bakker could be used on the left of a three or as a wing-back in a 3-4-3, as well as in his natural slot on the left of a back four, should come in useful to new Leverkusen coach Gerardo Seoane next season, and is reminiscent of RB Leipzig and Germany defender Marcel Halstenberg.
| Bakker, 21, joined PSG from Ajax in 2019 and was briefly first choice under Thomas Tuchel. Although he fell out of favour under the Chelsea manager's successor in Paris Mauricio Pochettino last term, he still leaves the Parc des Princes with 45 appearances and five trophies under his belt. "Mitchel is a technically versatile and dynamic wide player, whose profile fits perfectly to Bayer 04," said Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes. "He's still young and can develop, but already has experience at the highest level with a top European club." |
A 6'1" left-footer, Bakker is perhaps surprisingly attacking given his frame, and could be the perfect fit on the left of Gerardo Seoane's preferred four-man defensive system, although Wendell and Daley Sinkgraven should provide competition as it stands.
"It's a chance to take the next step in my development at an attractive club," Bakker told the club website on signing. "The whole package at Leverkusen convinced me. The people in charge made a real effort with me, were very target-focussed. The club is ambitious and so am I. It's a good fit."
| Bayer 04 have signed the Holland Under 21 international Mitchel Bakker. The left-back joins Leverkusen from the current French cup winners Paris Saint-Germain with Bakker signing a contract to 30 June 2025. |
What others saying
| "[Joining Leverkusen] is an opportunity to take the next step at an attractive club. The overall package from Leverkusen convinced me. The sporting management did a lot to get me and the conversations were very productive. The club is ambitious and so am I. That goes well together." - Bakker on swapping PSG for Leverkusen |
| "Mitchel Bakker combines athletic qualities such as pace and strength in challenges with footballing ability. He is a modern full-back with a strong desire to get forward and he'll help our team." - Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler |
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