Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has very quickly become one of the Premier League’s top centre-backs since joining the club last summer, drawing high praise from former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara.
And after a standout display in Tottenham’s recent 3-0 victory over Manchester United, O’Hara has hailed van de Ven as one of the best defenders in the world.
The Dutchman’s performance at Old Trafford was particularly notable for his blistering pace and composure. He made a stunning 60-yard run through United’s defence, ultimately setting up Brennan Johnson for Spurs’ opening goal.
This assist showcased van de Ven’s ability to make an impact both defensively and offensively.
O’Hara, speaking on talkSPORT, compared van de Ven to Arsenal’s William Saliba but suggested that the Tottenham defender is currently more complete.
The pundit emphasized van de Ven’s exceptional speed, technical skill, and intelligence on the pitch, qualities that place him among the world’s elite centre-backs.
O’Hara stated (as quoted by Evening Standard):
“[Van de Ven] is unbelievable.
“I’ll go as far as to say that probably the best centre-back in the world right now.
“He is better than Saliba. He has got way more than Saliba .. Van de Ven is better than Saliba right now. Van de Ven is the best centre-half in the world right now.”
Since his arrival at Spurs in August 2023 on a six-year deal , van de Ven has become an integral part of the squad. He made his Premier League debut against Brentford and has delivered consistently strong performances since.
Van de Ven’s rapid rise and outstanding contributions earned him Tottenham’s Player of the Season award for the 2023-24 campaign, solidifying his reputation as one of the best defenders in the league.
Spurs fans will be eager to see how much more he can achieve as he continues to develop into a key player for the team.