Arnaut Danjuma on love for AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham goal

ARNAUT Danjuma believes he “celebrated a bit too much” when he scored against Cherries last season, insisting: “I really love Bournemouth.”

Danjuma spent two seasons at Cherries between 2019 and 2021, scoring 17 goals in 52 appearances.

The Dutchman was the catalyst in the club qualifying for the Championship play-offs shortly before his departure. But goals in both legs of the semi-finals against Brentford could not prevent defeat, with Danjuma soon leaving to join Villarreal for €25million.

The forward impressed in his first season for the Yellow Submarine, playing a key role in the club reaching the Champions League semi-finals, scoring six times in 11 games, including the knockout ties against Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Halfway through last season, Danjuma made his return to England after a long-running January transfer saga. Cherries were keen to bring the 26-year-old back to Vitality Stadium, while Everton thought they had done enough to get the deal over the line, only for Tottenham Hotspur to swoop and complete the loan.

Things did not go to plan for the Netherlands international in north London. Of his 12 Tottenham appearances, only one came as a starter.

He scored two goals for the club, on his debut in an FA Cup win at Preston North End, before the first Premier League goal of his career, which ironically came against Cherries.

Danjuma struck to make the score 2-2 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before Dango Ouattara’s dramatic late winner.

Discussing that match, on the Freshly Grounded podcast, Danjuma said: “I was a bit dubious to be honest, because I really have an intense way of living the game.

“As eager as I am to perform for Tottenham, obviously it hurts your heart a bit for your first goal to be against your former club.

“Obviously they have served me really well and I hope I have served them well, as well.

“So it is a bit dubious the feeling. But I think I celebrated a bit too much, to be honest with you.

“It was the equaliser. As a football player, you represent the club that is on your chest, so at that time I was just trying to perform and do my best for the club. That was obviously who I was under contract with.

“The funny thing is, I was speaking to my friends before the game. They were gossiping and saying ‘imagine if it will be your first Premier League goal, against Bournemouth, make sure you keep it cool and don’t celebrate.’

“I was like ‘you don’t even have to say it to me, this is my former club, it’s out of the question. I very believe that you shouldn’t (celebrate), especially towards Bournemouth because it’s like a home for me, I really enjoyed my time there.’

“But then during the game and when the emotions kick in, you just lose it a bit.

“I threw my hands up twice to get the stadium going a little bit, but it takes nothing away from the fact I really love Bournemouth.

“I just lost myself a bit in those three or four seconds.”