Matthijs de Ligt’s career so far

Born in Leiderdorp, a town near the Dutch city of Leiden, De Ligt took his first footballing steps in the youth setup of FC Abcoude, on the outskirts of Amsterdam, in 2005 and remained there for four years.

Nearby Ajax were alerted to his talents in 2009 and brought him into their world-renowned academy system, where he would stay for the next decade, going on to make his first-team debut just three months after he turned 17.

Later that season, he became the youngest player ever to start a European club final, when Ajax took on United in the 2017 Europa League showpiece in Stockholm.

De Ligt was just 17 years and 285 days old when he lined up for that game, eventually won 2-0 by Jose Mourinho’s men.

The centre-back had quickly become a key squad member, so much so that he was handed the captaincy at the age of 18 by Erik ten Hag, making him the youngest player to take the armband in the 118-year history of the club.

Speaking in 2019, Ten Hag said: “I don’t know if De Ligt has shown 60 to 80 per cent of his potential, but we are talking about one of the best defenders in Europe.

“I have no doubt that he will soon be number one in this position.”

The defender, who stands at six feet two inches tall, was widely touted as one of the hottest prospects in world football and a move to Italian giants Juventus followed.

He won the Scudetto during a three-year spell at the Old Lady, before transferring to German behemoths Bayern Munich, where he also lifted a league title.

A senior Netherlands international since 2017, De Ligt has represented his country at the World Cup and European Championship and brings a wealth of experience to Manchester, despite his still relatively young age.

De Ligt joins United alongside Bayern team-mate and former Ajax man Noussair Mazraoui, adding to the contingent of players at Old Trafford who have previously been coached by Ten Hag.

A new test now awaits in the Premier League and our new no.4 is eager to get started.

“As soon as I heard that Manchester United wanted me, I felt an excitement about the opportunity for a new challenge at such an historic club. 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,” said De Ligt.

“Erik ten Hag shaped the early stages of my career, so he knows how to get the best out of me and I cannot wait to work with him again. I know what it takes to succeed at the highest level, and I’m determined to continue that record at this special club.”