Matthijs de Ligt in 2026: Net worth and Salary, Injury, Age, Wife, Transfer values, and FAQs

Net Worth and Salary

Money has followed Matthijs de Ligt almost from the moment he became Ajax captain. Three big money transfers, a string of long contracts at elite clubs, and steady endorsement income have built him into one of the wealthier defenders of his generation. Icon Polls estimates that his net worth in 2026 sits somewhere between $100 million and $110 million, factoring in career earnings, current contract value, image rights, and the lifestyle he has built around his career.

His salary at Manchester United is the engine behind that wealth right now. He earns around £195,000 per week in base wages, which works out to roughly £10.1 million per year before bonuses. With Champions League and Premier League performance bonuses written into his deal, that figure can climb closer to £220,000 per week in a good season. That package makes him one of the highest paid defenders in the Premier League and one of the top earners at Old Trafford.

Before his move to England, he was earning even more in raw terms at Bayern Munich, where his salary sat at around €15 million per year. At Juventus, his package was about €9.3 million per year. Across three elite clubs, his career earnings before tax have already crossed the €60 million mark in basic wages alone, not counting transfer related bonuses and signing fees.

Parents and Family Background

Matthijs was born to Frank de Ligt and Vivian de Ligt on 12 August 1999 in Leiderdorp, a town in the western Netherlands. The family moved to Abcoude, just south of Amsterdam, soon after he was born, and that move shaped his football journey because the whole household became Ajax fans. His parents came from sporting and creative backgrounds, with his father involved in athletics and the arts, and his mother bringing a strong cultural influence into the home.

He is the eldest of three. His younger twin brothers, Wouter and Fleur, grew up alongside him. Wouter has also played football, including spells at FC Abcoude, the same local club where Matthijs first kicked a ball. Friends and family describe him as protective of his siblings from a young age, the kind of older brother who would step in for them at school.

Date Joined Manchester United

Matthijs de Ligt officially joined Manchester United on 13 August 2024, signing a five year contract that runs until June 2029. The transfer fee from Bayern Munich came in at around €45 million, with potential add ons. He moved to Old Trafford as part of a double deal with fellow Bayern defender Noussair Mazraoui, both of them reuniting with then manager Erik ten Hag, who had coached De Ligt during his Ajax days.

Before that, his club timeline reads like a tour of European football giants. He came through the Ajax youth system from 2009, broke into the senior team in 2016, then moved to Juventus in 2019 for €85.5 million, which briefly made him the most expensive defender in the world. He left Turin for Bayern Munich in 2022 in a deal worth around €67 million, before the United move two years later.

Injury Update in 2026

The 2025-26 season was supposed to be his breakthrough year in English football. He started every Premier League minute through the first thirteen matches and looked like the defensive leader United had been missing. Then everything changed after the win over Crystal Palace on 30 November 2025. A back issue that was first described as small turned into something far more serious.

After six months of treatment, individual training, and several false starts, Manchester United confirmed in May 2026 that he had undergone successful surgery on a chronic back problem. The recovery cost him the rest of the 2025-26 club season and ruled him out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the Netherlands, a heavy blow for a player who has been a national team regular since he was seventeen. The club expects him back in action in the early stages of the 2026-27 campaign.

Age and Career Stage

De Ligt turned 26 on 12 August 2025, which means he is heading into what most analysts consider the peak years of a centre-back. Defenders often hit their best form between 27 and 31, when their reading of the game catches up with their physical tools. Icon Polls findings suggest that despite the back surgery setback, his age profile still makes him a long term asset for any top club, with at least five to seven elite level seasons ahead of him if he returns to full fitness.

Wife and Personal Life

Matthijs married Dutch model AnneKee Molenaar on 9 June 2024, capping a relationship that started back in 2018 during his early years at Ajax. AnneKee is the daughter of former professional footballer Keje Molenaar, who played for Ajax and Feyenoord and won two Dutch championships during his career. Her brother Jip Molenaar is also a professional footballer, so she grew up surrounded by the game.

AnneKee built her own profile as a model and social media influencer, working with international brands and amassing a large following on Instagram. She moved to Manchester with Matthijs when the United transfer was finalised, and was a visible presence around the club and at Netherlands matches. Reports in 2025 suggested the couple had grown apart, with some Dutch outlets describing the marriage as effectively over. Neither side has spoken publicly about it in detail, so the situation remains private.

Transfer Values Over the Years

Few defenders have generated more transfer market noise than Matthijs de Ligt. His career has produced four major moves, each carrying a serious price tag.

Ajax to Juventus in 2019 for €85.5 million, briefly the most expensive defender in the world

Juventus to Bayern Munich in 2022 for around €67 million

Bayern Munich to Manchester United in 2024 for around €45 million

Current market value in 2026 sits around €40 million, with some platforms estimating between €41 million and €50 million

Going into the summer of 2026, Atletico Madrid have been linked with a move, with reports suggesting United could accept around €40 million for him if a suitable bid arrives. Icon Polls estimates that any deal will depend heavily on his recovery from back surgery, since clubs will want medical clearance before committing serious money.

Frequently Asked Questions About Matthijs de Ligt

1. How old is Matthijs de Ligt in 2026?

He is 26 years old, born on 12 August 1999 in Leiderdorp, Netherlands. He will turn 27 in August 2026.

2. What is Matthijs de Ligt's net worth in 2026?

Icon Polls estimates his net worth at between $100 million and $110 million, built from elite club salaries, transfer related bonuses, and endorsements.

3. How much does Matthijs de Ligt earn per week at Manchester United?

His base weekly wage is around £195,000, which can rise to about £220,000 per week when bonuses kick in.

4. What is his annual salary?

His basic annual salary at Manchester United is roughly £10.1 million before bonuses, with the potential to add another £2.6 million per year through performance clauses.

5. Who are Matthijs de Ligt's parents?

His father is Frank de Ligt and his mother is Vivian de Ligt. The family is from Leiderdorp and later moved to Abcoude, near Amsterdam.

6. Does Matthijs de Ligt have siblings?

Yes, he has twin younger brothers named Wouter and Fleur. He is the eldest of the three.

7. When did Matthijs de Ligt join Manchester United?

He joined Manchester United on 13 August 2024 from Bayern Munich on a five year contract running until June 2029.

8. How much did Manchester United pay for him?

United paid Bayern Munich around €45 million for him, with potential add ons depending on performance.

9. What is the latest on his injury?

He underwent successful surgery in May 2026 to address a chronic back injury that had kept him out since 30 November 2025. He is expected to return for the start of the 2026-27 season.

10. Will he play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

No. His back surgery and recovery timeline rule him out of the 2026 World Cup in North America.

11. Who is Matthijs de Ligt's wife?

His wife is AnneKee Molenaar, a Dutch model and social media personality. They married on 9 June 2024.

12. How long have Matthijs and AnneKee been together?

They have been a couple since 2018, when he was making his name at Ajax. They got engaged in 2023 and married in 2024.

13. Do Matthijs de Ligt and his wife have children?

No, the couple does not have children. They have shared their life with two dogs, Cara Luna and Bella.

14. What position does Matthijs de Ligt play?

He plays as a centre-back. He is also comfortable as a stopper and has occasionally been used in deeper defensive roles.

15. What was his most expensive transfer?

His move from Ajax to Juventus in 2019 for €85.5 million was his biggest, making him briefly the most expensive defender ever signed.

16. What is his current market value in 2026?

His estimated transfer value in 2026 ranges from around €40 million to €50 million, depending on the source and his fitness status.

17. What clubs has Matthijs de Ligt played for?

He has played for Ajax, Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United at senior club level, with a brief spell at Jong Ajax during his breakthrough season.

18. What major trophies has he won?

He has won the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup with Ajax, the Serie A title and Coppa Italia with Juventus, and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. He also won the Golden Boy Award in 2018 and the Kopa Trophy in 2019.

19. How tall is Matthijs de Ligt?

He stands at 1.89 metres, which is around 6 feet 2 inches. His height and aerial presence are key parts of his defensive game.

20. Could Matthijs de Ligt leave Manchester United in 2026?

There has been serious interest from Atletico Madrid, with reports suggesting a fee around €40 million could be enough. Whether he leaves depends on his recovery from surgery and United's plans for the new manager era under Michael Carrick.

21. When was the youngest captain in Ajax history?

Matthijs de Ligt holds that record. He became the youngest captain in Ajax history during the 2017-18 season and also the youngest captain in the Champions League knockout stage at 19 years and 186 days.

22. Has Matthijs de Ligt scored international goals?

Yes. He has been a Netherlands regular since 2017, the youngest senior debutant for the Dutch national team since 1931, and has earned more than 50 caps along with several international goals.