Matthijs de Ligt Biography: Net Worth, Age, Career, Records, Family, Achievements!
Matthijs de Ligt is one of the most exciting young talents in European football today. At just 24 years old, he has already established himself as one of the best defenders in the world and a key player for Juventus and the Dutch national team.
De Ligt burst onto the scene as a teenager for Ajax, quickly becoming captain and leading them to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019. His commanding performances drew attention from Europe’s biggest clubs, and he sealed a €75 million move to Juventus that same summer.
Since joining Juventus, De Ligt has continued his rapid development into a world-class center back. He has gained valuable experience playing in Serie A and the Champions League, while also becoming a regular starter for the Netherlands.
So what’s the story behind this prodigious young talent? Here’s a detailed look at Matthijs de Ligt’s biography, net worth, age, career, records, family, achievements and relationships.
Matthijs de Ligt’s Biography
- Full Name: Matthijs de Ligt
- Date of Birth: 12 August 1999
- Birth Place: Leiderdorp, Netherlands
- Nationality: Dutch
- Height: 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
- Playing Position: Center back
Early Life
Matthijs de Ligt was born on 12 August 1999 in Leiderdorp, a small town near Leiden in the Netherlands. He was raised in nearby Abcoude by his parents Vivian de Ligt and Frank de Ligt.
De Ligt’s father Frank was also a professional footballer who played for various clubs in the Dutch leagues as a defender. It was clear from a young age that Matthijs had inherited his father’s passion for the game.
As a child, De Ligt played for the local team Abcoude before joining the prestigious youth academy of Ajax in Amsterdam at the age of 9. This marked the start of his journey to becoming one of the most coveted young defenders in world football.
Net Worth and Endorsements
- Current net worth: Estimated $12 million
- Career earnings: $17.7 million (since 2018)
- Endorsements: Jumia, Adidas
Despite being just 24 years old, Matthijs de Ligt has already amassed significant wealth from his short but successful football career so far. His current net worth is estimated to be around $12 million.
The majority of his earnings have come in the last few years since he broke into the Ajax first team and gained global recognition. In 2019 alone, his salary and bonuses at Ajax were estimated to be $7.5 million.
His blockbuster $85 million transfer to Juventus in 2019 also earned him a huge signing bonus. He currently earns around $5.3 million per year in salary from the Italian club.
De Ligt also has lucrative endorsement deals with brands like Adidas and Jumia that contribute to his growing wealth. As he continues to establish himself as one of the top defenders in football, his net worth is expected to keep rising rapidly in the coming years.
Career Information
- Current club: Juventus
- Joined Juventus: 2019
- Former club: Ajax
- Youth career: Ajax (2009–2016)
- National team: Netherlands
Ajax Breakthrough
After progressing through the Ajax youth ranks from 2009 to 2016, De Ligt was promoted to the club’s reserve team Jong Ajax in 2016 at the age of 17. He immediately became a standout performer at center back despite his tender age.
The young defender was rewarded with a call up to the Ajax first team squad in 2016 by manager Peter Bosz. He made his professional debut in September 2016 against Willem II at just 17 years and 40 days old.
De Ligt’s qualities were evident right away. He displayed maturity beyond his years, excelling at timing his tackles and reading the game defensively.
Over the next couple seasons, he gradually earned more playing time for Ajax and helped the team win the Dutch league and cup double in 2019. His standout performances led to him being named Ajax captain at just 19 years old.
Breakout 2018/19 Season
The 2018/19 season was when De Ligt truly announced himself on the world stage. With him marshaling the defense, Ajax went on a scintillating Champions League run that took them to the semi-finals.
Some of De Ligt’s standout performances that season include:
- 2 goals in a 3-3 group stage draw away to Bayern Munich
- Shutting out Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo over two legs in the quarterfinals
- Scoring the decisive goal against Juventus in a 2-1 second leg win in Turin
Domestically, he helped Ajax win the domestic double. He was rewarded by being named the Golden Boy award winner for the best under-21 player in Europe.
Blockbuster Move to Juventus
De Ligt’s exploits for Ajax captured the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs, who were coveting the teen sensation. After extensive speculation over his future, he agreed to a $85 million transfer to Italian champions Juventus in July 2019.
Since joining Juventus, De Ligt has continued to shine despite the step up to a more competitive league. He has formed strong defensive partnerships with veterans Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.
Some highlights from his time at Juventus so far include:
- Winning Serie A title in 2019/20 season
- 32 appearances in debut season (2019/20)
- Playing crucial role in Juve’s Champions League run in 2020/21
- Winning Coppa Italia in 2020/21 by keeping clean sheet in final
At just 24 years old, De Ligt looks set to be a pillar of the Juventus defense for many more years to come as he continues his rapid rise to stardom.
Age and Early Life
- Current Age: 24 years old
- Date of Birth: 12 August 1999
- Birth Place: Leiderdorp, Netherlands
- Zodiac Sign: Leo
As of January 2024, Matthijs de Ligt is 24 years old. He was born on 12 August 1999 in the small Dutch town of Leiderdorp.
De Ligt had a passion for football from a very young age, inherited from his father who was a professional player himself. He joined the Ajax youth academy when he was only 9 years old and progressed through the ranks.
By the time he made his debut for the Ajax first team in 2016 at age 17, he was already being viewed as an elite defensive talent with maturity and leadership skills beyond his years.
Some key facts about his early life:
- Grew up in Abcoude, Netherlands near Amsterdam
- Joined Ajax youth academy in 2009 at age 9
- Made professional debut for Ajax in September 2016 at age 17
- Became youngest ever Ajax captain in 2018 at age 19
De Ligt’s success at such a young age underscores his precocious talent and work ethic from his formative years as a footballer.
Playing Style and Records
Style of Play
Standing at 6 ft 2 in (1.89 m), Matthijs de Ligt is an imposing, powerful presence at the heart of any defense. He combines his physical attributes with an exceptionally mature reading of the game for a defender of his age.
Here are some of the key attributes that define De Ligt’s playing style:
- Commanding in the air – Excellent at winning aerial duels using his height, strength and leaping ability. Dangerous scoring threat on set pieces.
- Strong tackling – Times his tackles well and wins the ball cleanly. Not afraid to put in a crunching tackle when necessary.
- Leadership – Mature beyond his years and organizes defensive line. Also captained Ajax at age 19.
- Composure – Excellent at staying calm under pressure and retaining possession from the back.
- Passing ability – Very skilled passer with both short and long-range distribution. Helps his team build attacks from the back.
By combining his physical and technical abilities, De Ligt has quickly developed into one of the most well-rounded center backs in Europe despite his young age.
Records and Achievements
Some notable records and achievements from Matthijs de Ligt’s short but spectacular career so far:
- Youngest player to make debut for Netherlands (17 years, 330 days)
- Youngest defender to start for Netherlands at a major tournament (Euro 2020)
- Ajax’s youngest ever captain (age 19)
- Golden Boy award: Best U-21 player in Europe (2019)
- Included in UEFA Team of the Year (2019)
- Won Dutch Eredivisie (2019)
- Won Dutch Cup (2019)
