Mexx Meerdink

Dutch footballer (born 2003)

Mexx Meerdink
Personal information
Date of birth	(2003-07-24) 24 July 2003 (age 20)
Place of birth	Winterswijk, Netherlands
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Vitesse
Number	35
Youth career
2012–2021	de Graafschap
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–	Jong AZ	52	(14)
2023–	AZ Alkmaar	8	(0)
2024–	→ Vitesse (loan)	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 January 2024

Mexx Meerdink (born 24 July 2003) is a Dutch footballer who plays for Eredivisie club Vitesse on loan from AZ Alkmaar.^[1]

Early life

From Winterswijk, Meerdink was in the youth academy at de Graafschap from 2012 until 2021 when he signed up to Jong AZ.^[2]

Career

2021: Jong AZ debut

Meerdink made his league debut in the Eerste Divisie on 10 December 2021, appearing as a substitute in a 3-2 away defeat to ADO Den Haag.^[3] Meerdink made his first start on 21 January, 2022 against VVV Venlo in a youthful team that won 2-0 and in doing so earning the club their first win in four months. As well as Meerdink making a first start, Misha Engel and Lewis Schouten did as well. The oldest starting player for Jong AZ was 22 year-old Czech Richard Sedláček.^[4]

2023: AZ debut

On 7 March 2023 Meerdink made his debut for AZ in the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League against Lazio triggering a payment between €40,000 And €50,000 to his former club de Graafschap.^{[citation needed]} On March 19, 2023 he made his Eredivisie debut against FC Twente.^[5] Meerdink came off the bench to score the winning penalty in a UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final penalty shoot-out against RSC Anderlecht on April 20, 2023.^[6]

On 24 April 2023 Meerdink scored twice in the 2022–23 UEFA Youth League final against Hajduk Split as AZ ran out 5-0 winners.^[7]

2024: Vitesse

On 31 January 2024, Meerdink moved on loan to Vitesse until the end of the season.^[8]

Personal life

He is the son of former AZ professional footballer Martijn Meerdink.^[9]^[10]

References

^ "Mexx Meerdink- Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
^ "Mexx Meerdink can hurt De Graafschap with Young AZ: "They are not doing so well, are they"". Gelderlander.nl.
^ "ADO DEN HAAG VS. AZ II 3 - 2 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
^ "Extremely young Young AZ surprised with a convincing victory. First win in almost four months". noordhollandsdagblad.nl.
^ "AZ Suffer A Painful Defeat Against Twente". Football-Oranje. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
^ "Mexx Meerdrink follows in the footsteps of father Martijn after reaching the Conference League semi-finals with AZ". Gelderlander.nl. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
^ "UEFA Youth League final report: AZ Alkmaar 5-0 Hajduk Split". UEFA.com. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
^ "MEXX MEERDINK (20) VERSTERKT VOORHOEDE VITESSE" [MEXX MEERDINK (20) STRENGTHENS VITESSE'S VANGUARD] (in Dutch). Vitesse. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
^ "Young AZ base debutant Meerdink follows in his father's footsteps". nhnieuws.com.
^ "These former internationals all have a son on the Dutch fields". destentor.nl.