The beginning
Frenkie de Jong began his football career in the village where he was born, Arkel. At six years of age, his father registered him with the amateur club ASV Arkel.
Frenkie's story
2003
2005
Youth academy willem II
At eight years of age, De Jong was scouted by the professional football club Willem II. He switched to the Tilburg club, where he went through the shared youth academy of Willem II and RKC.
2013
First professional contract
On 1 August 2013, De Jong signed, at sixteen years of age, his first professional contract with Willem II.
2015
Professional football debut
On 10 May 2015, two days before his eighteenth birthday, De Jong made his official professional debut for Willem II, with a substitution in the home game against ADO Den Haag. In August of that year, he signed a contract with Ajax.
2016
Debuut Ajax 1
On 21 September 2016, De Jong made his debut for Ajax 1. In the cup match against his former club, Willem II, he entered the game for the last 10 minutes.
2017
Greatest talent
In the 2016/17 season, De Jong alternately played for Jong Ajax in the First Division and for Ajax 1. For his performance with Jong Ajax, he won the ‘Gouden Stier’: the prize for the greatest talent in the First Division. With Ajax 1, he played, among other games, in the Europa League final against Manchester United.
2018
Ajax breakthrough
The 2017/18 season was De Jong’s real breakthrough with Ajax. He landed a starting spot and stood out due to his good, technical play as a midfielder. On 22 August 2018, he also made his debut for the Dutch National Team in the practise game against Peru.
2019
Transfer to barcelona & first prizes
In January 2019, De Jong signed a contract with FC Barcelona, where he will start playing in the 2019/20 season.
That year, De Jong also won his first prizes: the cup and the national title with Ajax. He also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League with that club, beating Real Madrid and Juventus, among others.
With the Dutch National Team, De Jong reached the finale of the first edition of the Nations League, and he was named as the greatest talent in the tournament.
