When Burnley completed a deal for Quilindschy Hartman, it was considered a bit of a coup.
A year ago the now 23-year-old was at the top of his game. The left back played an important role in winning the Eredivisie with Feyenoord at the age of only 21 and closed a place in the Netherlands' Euro 2024 team.
But that was not the only major change in the works last summer. Hartman was in conversation to sign for Chelsea, with Arsenal also interested. Then a disaster struck.
A serious knee injury in March 2024 not only ended his euro, but also his chance of a dream movement. He would not return for 10 months – when he made his comeback for Feyenoord in February of this year.
“It was close,” says Hartman about his Premier League movement. “You never know in football, but if I was fit, it would have happened.
'But sometimes you have to change direction in life. That is what happened to me.
“It was a year and a half ago, but coming back pretty quickly, then getting the chance to get here … It feels like a big blessing I feel fit and I can play and move the way I did.”
Hartman would eventually get his Premier League movement – but it would be for Burnley. The young defender could easily have stayed where he was – with his boys' club for 15 years and Champions League football.
But it was time for a change – with one goal in mind: “The World Cup”.
“It is something I want to be in. I missed the last euros because of the injury. There were a number of difficult moments when I saw my teammates playing there. In the Netherlands, the entire street is orange and it was hard to see that.
“Everyone told you:” Oh, it's so sad that you're not there “. But for the rest I am a positive guy. I try to look at the positive side of everything.”
But why Burnley, especially because he was so close, so a bigger step just a year ago? “The way they were prepared for the conversations, the way they already knew a lot from me,” he says. “Not only on the field, which is of course very important, but also outside the field.
“They already knew many things about me as a person and why I should fit in the team. And that was one of the biggest reasons why I thought and got the feeling of:” I should go to them. “
Not without an important phone call first, in Dutch boss Ronald Koeman. “I just asked him before I made the decision:” What do you think that would be smart for me? “
“And he told me he thinks it would be a very good decision to play here in the biggest competition against the best players, so that I can show him that I am ready to be back in the national team.”
Hartman exchanges more than just the Netherlands for England, or even his boys' club for the chance to play against players he used to use on his PlayStation. It is a completely new way of life.
“It's harder. The impact of a duel is more difficult. Here the players are stronger, faster,” he says. “The piece is a bit more direct – so if there is a chance to go deep and put the ball over the top, you do it.
“While you may try to keep the ball at Feyenoord. Even if the opponent presses so high, you just try to play.
“It is a bit more direct, only in the mind. We have to score. And in Feyenoord it is a bit more about playing.
“The culture is a bit different than in the Netherlands. The CEO would never go on the table or something and eat with us. And here it is a bit different. Everyone is just together.
“So Burnley is a real, really good group. Nice people, not only the players, but only everyone in the building. For me it is no difference if I speak to someone who is a cleaner or a player.”
Another aspect that Hartman will help settle is his love for the darts, which is not surprising seeing how the Dutch are just as fanatic about the sport as English players.
And Hartman is also a decent player, with plans to record the arrows after his playing days have been completed. He has an average score of 75 – to go to the PDC Darts School, you need at least 85 on average.
Since he can brag friendships with Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Chris Dobie and Stephen Bunting – who all congratulated him on his move to Burnley – he has a number of decent people to learn.
“That's not a joke!” Hartman says when he was asked about his desire to become a professional arrow player after football. “I will try because I am sure that after my career I will only play darts matches.
“And let's take a look. I don't even practice regularly, just about two hours a day.”
But like every good darts player, you don't miss twice. Hartman knows that after a tumultuous 18 months this is a second chance that he must assume the Premier League.