Barcelona have always prided themselves on bringing through players from their La Masia academy, but since the mighty Johan Cruyff changed the face of the club as we know it in the 1970s, there’s been a Dutch thread running throughout the Blaugrana.

The latest signing, Frenkie De Jong, will officially join the club on July 1, and the Arkel, Netherlands, native follows a long line of his contemporaries who we’ll rank below in descending order according to their importance and impact at the club.

19. Ibrahim Afellay

Someone has to be at the bottom and that dubious honor falls to Ibrahim Afellay. Although he was registered with the club between joining (2010) and eventually leaving (2015), he went out on loan for three of those years to Schalke and Olympiacos. His biggest contribution whilst at Barcelona was his cross for Lionel Messi’s first goal in the epic 2011 Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. He did little else of note.

18. Richard Witschge

Although he was at Barcelona for between 1991 and 1993, you could have a t-shirt made with the slogan “I saw Richard Witschge play at Camp Nou” because his appearances there were so few and far between. Interestingly, it’s alleged that Barcelona deliberately overpaid for his services as a favor to a new board at Ajax, and to keep relations between the two club’s cordial.

17. Ronald de Boer

Of the two de Boer twins, it can’t be said that Ronald’s switch was a successful one. For a goal-scoring midfielder to only manage to find the net once in 37 league games across two seasons is pretty pathetic. No wonder he couldn’t wait to join another Dutchman, coach Dick Advocaat, at Rangers.

16. Winston Bogarde

The defender managed to play enough games in his opening half-season to qualify for a league and cup winners medal, but his contribution was negligible. Injuries meant he only played once in his first full season, and 21 games in his third and final season were as unremarkable as the rest.

15. Johan Neeskens

Known as “Johan No. 2” whilst at the club, Johan Neeskens was a darling of the terraces. It’s difficult to work out why, however. In almost 150 appearances across five years, he scored less than 40 goals—not good enough at that level—and Barcelona weren’t successful in general terms either.

14. Michael Reiziger

Reiziger was a fixture at right back during his tenure at the club in the late 1990s and early 2000s and was consistently good. Never outstanding, he did, nevertheless, feature heavily for the Catalans despite not being an undisputed starter in his position. A model professional, he was perfect for the role in which he was bought, and what he did, he did well.

13. Boudewijn Zenden

Previously named Dutch Talent of the Year, Boudewijn Zenden followed van Gaal along with many contemporaries but was unable to impress his manager enough to earn a starting place in his preferred role of left winger. Instead, he was converted to a left wing-back, a role he executed with aplomb. 

12. Edgar Davids

In his pomp at Juventus, Edgar Davids’ loan to Barca in 2004 was a hugely successful one. Joining in January of that season, the Blaugrana were enduring a horrid campaign and were sitting mid-table. Davids grabbed every game by the scruff of the neck and was the catalyst for Barcelona eventually managing to claw their way back up to second place. He’d done more than enough to earn a permanent contract but Inter would be the next grateful recipients of his services.

11. Jordi Cruyff

His father fought hard for Jordi Cruyff to get into the Barcelona side of the time, but he was never in quite the same class, a fact Cruyff Jr. has readily admitted. Top scorer for Barca B in 1992-93, he would be promoted to the senior team by Johan two years later. He wasn’t a regular but managed to score a decent amount of goals in comparison, including the one that guaranteed Barcelona European football for the following season.

10. Marc Overmars

Overmars is a player who should be much higher in this ranking but his time at the Barcelona was beset by uncertainties which affected his form to a greater degree than was necessary. Lightning-quick, Overmars never really got going at Barcelona and that was also due in no small part to niggling injuries that kept getting in the way of the Dutchman returning to full fitness.

9. Jasper Cillessen

A controversial choice to crack the top 10? Perhaps. But there’s no point denying just how important Jasper Cillessen has been as a cup keeper and as back-up to Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Witness his assist, yes assist, for one of Barcelona’s goals in the Copa del Rey final of 2018, and then take a peek at his YouTube highlights reel for the saves that he’s pulled off since wearing the Blaugrana.

8. Ruud Hesp

Another goalkeeper in the top 10, and one who helped the club win back-to-back La Liga titles whilst he was the custodian (1997-2000). Although Vitor Baia was in situ upon Hesp’s arrival, the latter played in 73 of the next 76 games before returning to the Netherlands. Hugely underrated.

7. Phillip Cocu

Phillip Cocu had the pleasure of forming a midfield three with Pep Guardiola and Luis Figo upon his arrival into the team, and then was joined by Xavi once Pep had moved on. Unlike many of the other Dutchman who left or were eased out when Van Gaal left, Cocu stayed on and was made vice-captain when Van Gaal returned in 2002. He scored the first goal of the Frank Rijkaard era in 2003 and was captain for much of his last season at the club.

6. Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Giovanni van Bronckhorst initially joined the club on loan, but his appearances were so impressive that there was never a doubt that his move from Arsenal would be made permanent. He  played a full part in Barcelona winning back-to-back La Liga titles, and was the only player to participate in every match en route to a third Champions League title in 2006, defeating his old club in the final. He was the scorer of some wonderful long-range goals, and his fitness in being able to incessantly shuttle back and forth down the left side endeared him to the Barca faithful.

5. Frank de Boer

Frank de Boer tested positive for nandrolone during his time at the club but was reinstated from a suspension after successfully appealing the punishment. That incident is an unfortunate stain on his time at the club, but in looking at what he brought to Barca, one can point to a calm authority week-in and week-out, which made him a hugely valued member of the team. Consistency personified.

4. Mark van Bommel

Just like Davids, Van Bommel wasn’t to everyone’s taste but was a fearsome competitor who never knew when he was beaten. That he came on a free transfer was an added bonus for a player of such quality. His skill in the defensive midfield role allowed him to complement the likes of Deco, Xavi and Andres Iniesta perfectly. Barcelona won the Champions League and La Liga in van Bommel’s only season at the club.

3. Patrick Kluivert

Like others in this list, Kluivert played for Ajax and Barcelona and was a hit from his very first game. A one-in-two goals-to-games ratio was as good as it could get for a player whose natural striking ability shone through. Kluivert was the top scorer in three of his six seasons at the club, but only won one title, in the league, in his first season.

2. Ronald Koeman

Koeman is the scorer of one of the most important goals in Barca’s recent history: the rocket against Sampdoria at Wembley that gave the club its second-ever European Cup in 1992. But Koeman will be remembered for so much more. A wonderful competitor, his free-kick prowess, especially for a full-back, was legendary, and he loved to get forward at every opportunity but was incredibly disciplined in his defensive duties.

1. Johan Cruyff

No question that Johan Cruyff would be No.1 in this list. Even now, almost 50 years after he was in his pomp at the Camp Nou, his influence is felt. The way in which the team plays out from the back in almost every situation, the formations, the training rondos… All of these facets are recognizable the world over, and were introduced by Cruyff. Coach of the “Dream Team,” and Pep Guardiola’s mentor, the Barca we see today is directly descended from the three-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Jason Pettigrove is an experienced freelance football journalist, editor, and published author who specializes in La Liga and the major European leagues. Find him on Twitter @jasonpettigrove.