Max de Ligt

Max de Ligt
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-07-20) 20 July 2004
Place of birth Utrecht, Netherlands
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Sparta Rotterdam
Youth career
Feyenoord Academy
2015–2022 FC Utrecht
2022– Sparta Rotterdam
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Jong Sparta Rotterdam 75 (3)
2024– Sparta Rotterdam 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 March 2026

Max de Ligt (born 20 July 2004) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Sparta Rotterdam, where he also represents Jong Sparta Rotterdam.[1]

Club career

Youth career

De Ligt began his football development in the youth academy of Feyenoord. In 2015, he joined the youth setup of FC Utrecht, where he played for several youth teams before moving to the academy of Sparta Rotterdam in 2022.[2][3]

Senior career

From the 2022–23 season onwards, De Ligt became part of Jong Sparta Rotterdam, the reserve side competing in the Tweede Divisie. He quickly established himself as a regular starter in defence.[4]

On 5 April 2024, De Ligt signed his first professional contract with Sparta Rotterdam until mid-2026, with an option for an additional year, which was later activated.[2]

On 18 December 2024, De Ligt made his first-team debut for Sparta Rotterdam in a KNVB Cup match against Go Ahead Eagles.[5] He came on during extra time, as Sparta were eventually eliminated after a penalty shoot-out.[6]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Apps Goals Cup Apps Cup Goals Other Apps Other Goals Total Apps Total Goals
Jong Sparta Rotterdam 2022–23 Tweede Divisie
2023–24
2024–25
2025–26
Sparta Rotterdam 2024–25 Eredivisie 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Career total 75 3 1 0 0 0 76 3

References

  1. ^ "Max de Ligt verlengt contract bij Sparta | Sparta Rotterdam". www.sparta-rotterdam.nl. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  2. ^ a b Keemink, Mischa (5 April 2024). "Max de Ligt tekent eerste profcontract bij Sparta Rotterdam". WaterwegSport.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  3. ^ "Jong Sparta mist Max de Ligt en incasseert zware nederlaag". dagblad010.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  4. ^ "Max de Ligt". VriendenLoterij Eredivisie (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  5. ^ "Sparta 1 - 1 Go Ahead". www.espn.nl. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  6. ^ "Go Ahead verslaat Sparta na strafschoppen, ook Heracles en AZ door in beker". NOS (in Dutch). 18 December 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2026.