Matthijs de Ligt was born on 12 August 1999 in Abcoude, near Amsterdam, and joined the Ajax youth academy at the age of nine. He made his senior debut for Ajax in September 2016, scoring on his first appearance to become the club's second-youngest goalscorer in history. By the 2018–19 season he had been appointed club captain — the youngest in Ajax's history — and led the side to a domestic double while helping them reach the Champions League semi-finals, including a decisive quarter-final goal against Juventus.
Those performances earned De Ligt the 2018 Golden Boy award, making him the first defender to win it, and the 2019 Kopa Trophy. He then moved to Juventus for €75 million, winning Serie A in his first season and the Coppa Italia in his second. In 2022 he joined Bayern Munich, adding a Bundesliga title in his debut campaign.
A physically strong, right-footed centre-back, De Ligt is noted for his aerial ability, clean tackling, composure in possession, and capacity to organise those around him. Manchester United signed him in August 2024 on a five-year contract for an initial fee of around €45 million, and he has established himself as a key defensive option for the club.
De Ligt made his senior international debut for the Netherlands in March 2017 at the age of 17, becoming the youngest player to start for the national team since 1931. He has earned more than 50 caps and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.