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

Mexx Meerdink
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-07-24) 24 July 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Winterswijk, Netherlands
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
AZ
Number 35
Youth career
2012–2021 de Graafschap
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Jong AZ 52 (14)
2023– AZ Alkmaar 17 (4)
2024Vitesse (loan) 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 November 2024

Early life

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

Career

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2021: Jong AZ debut

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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

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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 19 March 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 20 April 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

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

2024–25: Return to AZ

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Meerdink returned to his parent club AZ ahead of the 2024–25 campaign. On 30 August 2024, Meerdink scored his first Eredivisie goal in a 3–0 win away at RKC Waalwijk.[9]

Personal life

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He is the son of former AZ professional footballer Martijn Meerdink.[10][11]

Career statistics

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As of match played 10 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jong AZ 2021–22 Eerste Divisie 16 2 16 2
2022–23 Eerste Divisie 19 8 19 8
2023–24 Eerste Divisie 17 4 17 4
2024–25 Eerste Divisie 1 0 1 0
Total 53 14 53 14
AZ 2022–23 Eredivisie 6 0 0 0 3[a] 0 9 0
2023–24 Eredivisie 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2024–25 Eredivisie 9 4 0 0 4[b] 0 13 4
Total 17 4 0 0 7 0 24 4
Vitesse (loan) 2023–24 Eredivisie 9 0 1 0 10 0
Career total 79 18 1 0 7 0 0 0 87 18
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Conference League
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

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  1. ^ "Mexx Meerdink- Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  2. ^ "Mexx Meerdink can hurt De Graafschap with Young AZ: "They are not doing so well, are they"". Gelderlander.nl.
  3. ^ "ADO DEN HAAG VS. AZ II 3 - 2 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  4. ^ "Extremely young Young AZ surprised with a convincing victory. First win in almost four months". noordhollandsdagblad.nl.
  5. ^ "AZ Suffer A Painful Defeat Against Twente". Football-Oranje. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "UEFA Youth League final report: AZ Alkmaar 5-0 Hajduk Split". UEFA.com. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  8. ^ "MEXX MEERDINK (20) VERSTERKT VOORHOEDE VITESSE" [MEXX MEERDINK (20) STRENGTHENS VITESSE'S VANGUARD] (in Dutch). Vitesse. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  9. ^ "AZ-aanvaller Mexx Meerdink maakt allereerste goal in de Eredivisie op dramatische avond voor RKC Waalwijk". Voetbalzone. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Young AZ base debutant Meerdink follows in his father's footsteps". nhnieuws.com.
  11. ^ "These former internationals all have a son on the Dutch fields". destentor.nl.
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Mexx Meerdink at Soccerway