Top 5 Dutch Footballers of the last decade (2010-2019)

#4 Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus)

Matthijs de Ligt

The Juventus defender rose through the ranks at Ajax, joining the club at a very young age and impressing for the youth team. Pretty soon, it was clear that the boy was a once-in-a-generation talent who had the ability to become the best in the world. At Ajax, Matthijs de Ligt was nurtured into a leader and a defensive stalwart. He made his debut for the first team in the 2016-17 season and soon became a mainstay in the club’s team.

The Dutchman started by helping his team reach the final of the Europa League in his debut season but ended up in the losing side against Manchester United. However, de Ligt continued to develop into one of the hottest properties in European football and last season, he was an omnipresent feature of the Ajax team that won the Eredivisie as well as the KNVB Cup, while also reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. His performances ensured that there was a bidding war for his services over the summer, and it was Juventus who ultimately won the race for his signature.

At Turin, however, de Ligt has struggled to replicate his form from last season, but there’s no denying his talent. Still one of the most promising youngsters in the world, de Ligt is expected to improve even further in the near future.

Playing Style: The youngster is strong and well built, which means that he is a sturdy presence at the back. However, de Ligt is also extremely fast and has an aerial presence that works very well on both ends of the pitch. He plays with maturity and has displayed leadership attributes beyond his age. The Dutchman is also quite comfortable on the ball and has an impressive tackling ability.