Who is Frenkie de Jong?

Where it all started for Frenkie de Jong

Frenkie De Jong was just eight when Willem II scouted him. Willem II is a small team from the south of Holland that plays in the Dutch first devision. He ended up joining the club in Tilburg and came up through their youth academy where he played until signing a contract at age 16.

In August 2013, when he was just sixteen, De Jong signed his first professional contract with Willem II. He made his official debut on May 10, 2015—just two days before turning eighteen—coming off the bench in a home game against ADO Den Haag.

A few months later, he made a verbal agreement with PSV for a transfer, but the technical director of Ajax saw his full potential and offered him a huge signup fee if he would join Ajax. Part of the deal was that Willem II would remain with 10% of the transfer rights (great move).

Frenkie de Jong at Ajax

After joining Ajax in August 2015, De Jong started out with Jong Ajax, the club’s youth team. It didn’t take long for him to make an impression with his calmness on the ball and smart passing.

Over time, he worked his way into the first team, becoming a key player in midfield. By the 2018–19 season, he was one of the standout stars as Ajax made a thrilling run to the Champions League semi-finals, beating big clubs like Real Madrid and Juventus along the way. In this season Frenkie also became champion of the Dutch league with Ajax.

His performances that season caught the attention of top European clubs—and it was clear he was destined for the big stage.

Big transfer to Barcelona

In January 2019, it became official—De Jong was heading to Barcelona. The deal was announced months in advance, and he joined the club that summer.

It was a dream move for him, since he’d always admired Barça’s style of play. At Camp Nou, he slotted into midfield pretty quickly and showed flashes of the same class he’d displayed at Ajax.

While the team had its ups and downs, De Jong stayed consistent, known for his smooth dribbling, vision, and ability to control the tempo of a game. Over the years, he became one of the most reliable players in the squad.

On the pitch, De Jong is all about control. He’s the kind of player who makes the game look simple—always calm under pressure, always picking the right pass.

He’s known for gliding past opponents with ease and dictating the rhythm of a match. Off the field, he’s low-key and down-to-earth.

Frenkie and girlfriend Mikky Kiemeney

Not one for the spotlight, he keeps things pretty quiet and focuses on his game. Fans and teammates respect him for his work ethic and humility—he just lets his football do the talking.

Frenkie on transfermarkt

Frenkie at Oranje

Frenkie de Jong made his debut for the Dutch national team in 2018, and it didn’t take long for him to become a regular. He fit right in, bringing the same composure and intelligence to the midfield that he showed at club level.

One of his early highlights with the Netherlands was helping them reach the final of the UEFA Nations League in 2019, where they finished as runners-up. Since then, he’s been a key part of the squad in major tournaments, known for linking defense and attack and keeping things ticking in the middle of the pitch.

More about Frenkie in this big Frenkie interview.