Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich, so here’s everything you need to know about the new potential star.
With a busy summer underway, Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich.
The Red Devils have already secured the services of Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro to bolster Erik ten Hag’s squad for the new Premier League season.
However, to compete back at the top, even more business is on the cards at Old Trafford this summer.
Noussair Mazraoui has also joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich, alongside a teammate of his in De Ligt.
So with Ten Hag reuniting with some of his former players at Manchester United, here’s a look at everything you need to know about Matthijs de Ligt.
Who is Matthijs de Ligt?
Matthijs de Ligt is a professional football player who currently plays for Manchester United and the Netherlands national team.
Hailing from the Netherlands, De Ligt joined the Ajax academy at the age of nine as he looked to take his steps into professional football.
The defender made his debut for Jong Ajax – the second team – in 2016 but only played there for one year before his talents offered him a chance in the first-team setup.
At just 17 years and 285 days old, he became the youngest player to feature in a European final – playing against Manchester United in the Europa League final in 2017.
In 2018, De Ligt was named captain as he became the youngest to have ever held the armband in the club’s history.
Later that same year, the defender was named the winner of the Golden Boy award, given to the most promising youngsters in the world.
In 2019, Juventus made their move to sign De Ligt and confirmed a deal that saw him play for three years, though a turbulent time saw the club slowly lose their monopoly at the top of the Serie A.
The Dutch international then left Turin for Munich, joining Bayern Munich as a player that still held plenty of potential.
De Ligt struggled to keep his place in the side though, with Thomas Tuchel preferring other options in the 2023/24 season.
How old is Matthijs de Ligt?
Matthijs de Ligt was born on August 12, 1999, in Leiderdorp, Netherlands, making him 24 years old as of writing.
How tall is Matthijs de Ligt?
Matthijs de Ligt is approximately 1.89 metres tall, which is roughly six feet and two inches, which makes him relatively imposing at the back.
What position does Matthijs de Ligt play?
Throughout his career, Matthijs de Ligt has played as a centre-back who is capable of playing on the left and right.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Matthijs de Ligt’s playing style
Manchester United are set to get a centre-back who is more than comfortable when playing the ball from the back.
While he is predominantly right-footed, De Ligt is capable of creating good passing angles with his fellow defenders and the midfielders in front of him.
When it comes to defensive ability, the Dutchman likes to mark players tightly which can work well for someone as physically imposing as he is.
That does become a challenge once he is turned though, with opposition forwards capable of losing him and running in behind.
With a skillset that could suit the top end of the Premier League, it remains to be seen whether Ten Hag can get the best out of his former player.
Matthijs de Ligt on Manchester United move
After completing his switch to Manchester United, De Ligt spoke to the media team about his decision to join the Red Devils.
“As soon as I heard that Manchester United wanted me, I felt an excitement about the opportunity for a new challenge at such a historic club,” he told the official Man United website.
“In the conversations that followed, I was impressed by the vision that the football leadership set out and the role they saw for me in it.
“Erik ten Hag shaped the early stages of my career, so he knows how to get the best out of me. I know what it takes to succeed at the highest level.”
Matthijs de Ligt career stats
| Club | Appearances | Minutes played | Yellow cards | Red cards | Goals |
| Ajax | 117 | 9,930 | 15 | 0 | 13 |
| Juventus | 117 | 10,026 | 16 | 1 | 8 |
| Bayern Munich | 73 | 5,314 | 10 | 0 | 5 |
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