Liverpool are not interested in signing £70m-rated Ajax centre-half Matthijs de Ligt this summer, according to reports. De Ligt is one of Europe’s most-coveted players after captaining Ajax to an Eredivisie and Dutch Cup double this season.
The 19-year-old also inspired Ajax to a Champions League semi-final spot, but is expected to join Barcelona-bound midfielder Frenkie de Jong in leaving the club this summer. Manchester United are also believed to be interested in De Ligt, having previously rejected him for being ‘significantly overweight’.
However, Liverpool and Barca have emerged as the frontrunners for his signature – only for the Liverpool Echo to claim that Jurgen Klopp’s men ‘have no plans to make a move’.
They deny that the Anfield outfit have entered negotiations over De Ligt and ‘are not trying to secure the services’ of the talented teenager, as Klopp ‘is happy’ with his current central defensive options.
The Reds chief feels that, with Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip forming a fantastic partnership, Joe Gomez will ‘kick on’ and Dejan Lovren can provide more than adequate cover>
Today’s stat of the day is focused on Ajax’s golden boy, Matthijs De Ligt, who has led his side to the brink of the champions league final! Will they prevail against Spurs? ??⚽️? #matthijsdeligt #ajax #statoftheday #experiencemore #indulgefootball pic.twitter.com/3ALUv8iaq0
— Indulge Football⚽️✈️ ? (@IndulgeFootball) April 30, 2019
De Ligt joined the Ajax youth academy when he was 9 years old from his local club in Abcoude, just outside of Amsterdam. At first the coaches at the youth academy thought he was too slow and out of shape, but he was given a chance to develop in the academy and went on to prove his quality.
De Ligt at age 19 have achieved a lot. On September 2016, he made his debut for Ajax’s senior team in a cup game against Willem II. He then scored from a corner after 25 minutes, making him the second-youngest goalscorer ever behind Clarence Seedorf.
On 24 May, he became the youngest player ever (17 years and 285 days old) to play in a major European final when he started against Manchester United in the 2017 UEFA Europa League Final. On 17 December 2018, de Ligt won the Golden Boy award, becoming the first defender to win the award. In 2017, de Ligt made his debut for the Netherlands at the age of 17, making him the youngest player to start for the national team since 1931.