Matthijs de Ligt: Man United make key decision on Dutch defender
Matthijs de Ligt: Man United make key decision on Dutch defender Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt’s prolonged absence this season has raised concerns among fans. The Dutch defender arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2024 as Raphael Varane’s replacement. The French defender left as a free agent that summer after helping the club lift the FA Cup in his final appearance.
United wanted a capable figure to take over from the four-time Champions League winner and found their man in De Ligt. The Dutchman won the Golden Boy award in 2018 and the Kopa Trophy the following year, and was once regarded as one of the best young footballers in the world. He had already garnered extensive trophy-winning experience with Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich when he arrived in England.
The Red Devils believed they had managed a coup by convincing the Bavarians to part ways with their prized asset. De Ligt enjoyed a decent debut campaign, and was outstanding in the first half of this campaign, before a back injury derailed his season. De Ligt’s 2025/26 Campaign De Ligt started the season as part of the back three in former head coach Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, and was arguably one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
He started the first 13 Premier League games, playing every minute and even scoring a late equaliser in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. His form saw him win United’s Player of the Month for November, but disaster struck soon after. The Dutchman was sidelined with a back injury at the start of December and has been out of action ever since.
Matthijs de Ligt Premier League Stats: 2025/26 Season Source: Premier League website . In his absence, the Red Devils went through a significant change, with Amorim losing his job and Michael Carrick appointed as caretaker manager until the end of the season. The Premier League giants also abandoned the Portuguese head coach’s 3-4-3 system in favour of a 4-2-3-1 formation.