Doekhi ‘Delighted’ to Join Lazio, Reveals Ex-Man Utd Defender as His Idol: “We Have a Similar Style”

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The Laziali

·15 July 2026

Doekhi ‘Delighted’ to Join Lazio, Reveals Ex-Man Utd Defender as His Idol: “We Have a Similar Style”

In his first interview as a Lazio player, Danilho Doekhi told the club’s supporters what they can expect to see from him on the pitch.

Danilho Doekhi Joins Lazio on a Free Transfer

The 28-year-old is a Dutch defender who spent the previous four years at Union Berlin. After seeing out his contract with the Bundesliga club, he penned a three-year agreement with Lazio on Tuesday, and then immediately joined Gennaro Gattuso’s ranks on the second day of pre-season.

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Doekhi Presents Himself to Lazio Fans

On Thursday, Doekhi expressed his delight at joining the Biancocelesti in an interview with the club’s official social channels (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), revealing the chat he had with Gattuso before his arrival.

I’m very happy to be here. Lazio are a very important club, so I’m delighted to have joined. I hope to put my qualities at the service of the team, that the club will appreciate them, and that I can help achieve our objectives. I spoke with coach Gattuso. We had a great conversation. Now we just have to get to work. There are already two Dutch players here (Noslin and Taylor), and that helps me a lot. They can make it easier for me to settle in and integrate into the group. Lazio are a big club, so I already knew a lot about them. I follow many teams in the Italian league and I’ve watched Lazio play several times, so I was already familiar with the squad.

Doekhi’s Best Playing Traits

The Rotterdam native also listed his best attributes. Naturally, he spoke about his defensive prowess, but also mentioned his attacking contributions, especially after scoring six goals last season.

I’m a defender who likes to read the game. I enjoy defending, taking on attackers and stopping them from scoring, helping the team keep clean sheets. But I also like being a threat in the opposition’s box from set pieces and scoring with headers. I think I have several strengths. I also believe in always being professional: eating well, sleeping well, resting, relaxing at home and recovering properly. Then, of course, you need a bit of luck to avoid serious injuries.

A Footballing Bloodline

Doekhi hails from a family with a rich football heritage. His uncle Winston Bogarde played for Ajax, AC Milan, Barcelona, and Chelsea, and he also has a cousin at Aston Villa.

Yes, my uncle also played in Italy. He represented some big clubs. I speak to him often, including about this transfer. He told me that Lazio are a great club, that Italy is a wonderful country to live in, and that the league is very competitive. My cousins are also doing well. One is at Aston Villa, the other at LASK. Everyone is following their own path.

Doekhi Idlized Raphael Varane

The new Lazio signing pinpointed former Real Madrid and Manchester United defender Raphael Varane as his playing idol, while naming Lionel Messi as the best player in the world.

My idol has always been Varane. He’s retired now, but I’ve always admired him because we have a similar style of play. He’s a role model for me. When it comes to players in my position, it’s difficult to name just one. There are several that I like, but I don’t have an absolute favourite. If we’re talking in general, I’d say Lionel Messi. Many people talk about Maradona and so many other greats, but I never had the chance to watch them play live. Of the players I’ve seen, I’d choose Messi.

Lazio Hand Doekhi the Number 5

Finally, Doekhi explained why he chose the No.5 jersey and revealed two names people often use to address him.

I chose the number 5 because I also wore it at Union Berlin, where I had a very happy time. It was available, so it seemed like the obvious choice. You can call me Dani, or Duki—whichever you prefer! To the fans, I’d like to say that I’m absolutely delighted to be here. I can’t wait to meet you all, and I hope I can give you plenty to celebrate.