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Many eyebrows were raised in the January transfer window when Barnsley completed the signing of USA international striker Daryl Dike on loan from MLS side Orlando City.
The signing of the highly rated young striker, who is strongly regarded across the Atlantic seemed like a real coup for Barnsley, but what will the 20-year-old bring to Oakwell?
Goal scoring prowess
Dike burst on to the scene last year, having an outstanding breakthrough season in the MLS with Orlando, ending the campaign with eight goals from 22 appearances in all competitions.
Another example of the attacking talent Dike possesses is that he was the recipient of the 2019 offensive most outstanding player award for his performances for Virginia Cavaliers in college soccer, an award previously won by the likes of Claudio Reyna and Jordan Morris. It was Dike’s performances in college soccer that earned him his subsequent move to Orlando City in the MLS in 2020.
Award winning striker
As previously mentioned above Dike scooped up the 2019 offensive most outstanding player award in his time in college soccer. The 20-year-old didn’t stop their though, and was rewarded for his performances in the MLS last year with the ‘MLS rookie of the year’ award.
While the standard of football in the USA isn’t as high as it is in Europe it’s still demanding, and the accolades Dike has collected in the States should put him in good stead to make a quick start to life in South Yorkshire.
Senior international
Barnsley were real opportunists with the capture of Dike, who only became eligible for a work permit the day before he made his move, due to making his debut for the USA Men’s National Team in a convincing 7-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago.
The Tykes seized their opportunity to sign the American by swooping for him shortly after and tying up a move for the striker on deadline day, in what proved to be a whirlwind 24 hours for Daryl Dike. Whether other Championship teams were interested in Dike is unknown, but Barnsley left nothing to chance and ensured they signed the striker in an efficient manner.
Option to Buy
Another pleasing aspect in the deal for Barnsley supporters should be the club holding an option to buy clause in the loan deal for the highly rated striker.
Some reports in America had suggested that the fee Barnsley would have to pay to make Dike’s loan move a permanent one would be in the region of $20million (£14.7million), but Barnsley chief executive Dane Murphy quashed these rumours telling the Barnsley Chronicle
“The buy option is quite similar to prices we have paid for players before.
“It was key to the deal that we got a buy option in.
“We have made it pretty clear over the last few years that just pure loans don’t really appeal to us unless they are special circumstances, like a Matty James.
“It is difficult to get a club to put a buy clause in there when you have such a talented young player coming out of the US. But we got there.”
While Murphy didn’t reveal the actual fee required to sign Dike permanently, it doesn’t appear as if will be an unfeasible amount, and THE TYKES could swoop to make the loan permanent over the summer if they are pleased with the performances of Dike between now and the end of the season.
Conclusion
To summarise, it is clear that Dike has a vast amount of talent, and possess the capabilities to be one of the best strikers in the league.
Nonetheless the striker is still extremely raw, and hasn’t yet acquired a vast amount of experience, with just one season of Professional Men’s football under his belt.
Only time will tell how well Dike fairs in Yorkshire, but it’s clear that the 20-year-old was one of the best signings made by a Championship team this month, and his arrival in Barnsley could help the Reds to finish the season strongly.
