Biography
Who is Frenkie de Jong?
Early life
Frenkie de Jong was born on May 12, 1997, in Gorinchem and grew up in Arkel, a town located in the province of South Holland. His parents named him after the British pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and he has a younger brother named Youri. His father enrolled him at the local amateur club ASV Arkel when he was six years old to start playing football. At eight years old, he was scouted by Willem II and joined the shared youth academy of Willem II and RKC Waalwijk to develop his skills.
Club career
Frenkie signed his first professional contract with Willem II at the age of sixteen and made his Eredivisie debut in May 2015 against ADO Den Haag. Ajax purchased him in August 2015 for a symbolic euro, loaning him back to Willem II for part of the season. After returning to Ajax, he played for Ajax II in the Eerste Divisie and won the talent of the season award for his performances. He established himself as a first team regular, featuring in the center of midfield and occasionally as a center-back.
During the 2018-19 season, he played a central role in Ajax winning the domestic double and reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. He was named Eredivisie player of the season and selected to the UEFA Champions League squad of the season. In January 2019, he agreed to join La Liga club Barcelona for a fee worth seventy-five million euros, officially moving to the Spanish club in July of that year.
International career
Frenkie represented the Netherlands through various youth levels, making appearances for both the under-19 and under-21 squads. He received his first senior call-up in August 2018 and made his debut as a half-time substitute against Peru in September of that year. He quickly became a starter in the inaugural UEFA Nations League, helping the team finish as runners-up to Portugal and earning the Young Player of the Tournament award in June 2019.
Following his early senior success, he continued to represent his country at major international tournaments. He played for the national squad at UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and tournaments, maintaining his status as a vital midfielder for the Dutch national team.
Personal life and physical attributes
Frenkie stands at a height of 180 centimeters. Born under the zodiac sign of Taurus, he grew up in the Netherlands with his family, including his parents Marjon and John. His career has taken him from local amateur pitches in Arkel to professional prominence in Amsterdam and Barcelona.
Birthday and age
Frenkie de Jong was born on May 12, 1997, which makes Frenkie 29 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Frenkie shares the date with 38 other famous people.
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