Mexx Meerdink
{{Short description|Dutch footballer (born 2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Mexx Meerdink
|image =
|caption =
|full_name =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|7|24|df=y}}
|birth_place = Winterswijk, Netherlands
|height = 1.82 m
|position = Forward
|currentclub = AZ
|clubnumber = 35
|youthyears1 = 2012–2021
|youthclubs1 = de Graafschap
|years1 = 2021–
|clubs1 = Jong AZ
|caps1 = 54
|goals1 = 14
|years2 = 2023–
|clubs2 = AZ Alkmaar
|caps2 = 37
|goals2 = 13
|years3 = 2024
|clubs3 = → Vitesse (loan)
|caps3 = 7
|goals3 = 0
|club-update = 25 May 2025
|nationalteam-update =
}}
Mexx Meerdink (born 24 July 2003) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a forward for {{Dutch football updater|AZAlkmaar}} club AZ Alkmaar.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/mexx-meerdink/796451/|title=Mexx Meerdinl|website=Soccerway}}
Early life
From Winterswijk, Meerdink was in the youth academy at de Graafschap from 2012 until 2021 when he signed up to Jong AZ.{{Cite web|url= https://www.gelderlander.nl/de-graafschap/mexx-meerdink-kan-de-graafschap-pijn-doen-met-jong-az-ze-doen-het-niet-zo-best-he~abb10fd9/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2F|title=Mexx Meerdink can hurt De Graafschap with Young AZ: "They are not doing so well, are they"|website=Gelderlander.nl}}
Career
=2021: Jong AZ debut=
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.{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2021/12/10/netherlands/eerste-divisie/hfc-ado-den-haag/jong-az/3512956/|title= ADO DEN HAAG VS. AZ II 3 - 2|website=Soccerway}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://m.noordhollandsdagblad.nl/cnt/dmf20220121_42887347|title= Extremely young Young AZ surprised with a convincing victory. First win in almost four months|website=noordhollandsdagblad.nl}}
=2023: AZ debut=
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|date=September 2023}} On 19 March 2023, he made his Eredivisie debut against FC Twente.{{Cite web|date=19 March 2023|title=AZ Suffer A Painful Defeat Against Twente|url=http://www.football-oranje.com/az-suffer-a-painful-defeat-against-twente/|website=Football-Oranje|accessdate=8 April 2023}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/sport/mexx-meerdrink-treedt-in-voetsporen-vader-martijn-na-bereiken-halve-finales-conference-league-met-az~ae68f130/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F|website=Gelderlander.nl|title= Mexx Meerdrink follows in the footsteps of father Martijn after reaching the Conference League semi-finals with AZ|date=20 April 2023|accessdate=21 April 2023}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/news/0280-17dae51ecde3-5d91f742ee74-1000--report-az-cruise-to-youth-league-glory|website=UEFA|title= UEFA Youth League final report: AZ Alkmaar 5-0 Hajduk Split|date=24 April 2023|access-date=25 April 2023}}
=2024: Vitesse=
On 31 January 2024, Meerdink moved on loan to Vitesse until the end of the season.{{cite web|publisher=Vitesse|url=https://www.vitesse.nl/nieuws/2024/mexx-meerdink-20-versterkt-voorhoede-vitesse|title=MEXX MEERDINK (20) VERSTERKT VOORHOEDE VITESSE|trans-title=MEXX MEERDINK (20) STRENGTHENS VITESSE'S VANGUARD|date=31 January 2024|access-date=3 February 2024|language=nl}}
=2024–25: Return to AZ=
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.{{cite web |title=AZ-aanvaller Mexx Meerdink maakt allereerste goal in de Eredivisie op dramatische avond voor RKC Waalwijk |url=https://www.voetbalzone.nl/nieuws/az-aanvaller-mexx-meerdink-maakt-allereerste-goal-in-de-eredivisie-op-dramatische-avond-voor-rkc-waalwijk/blt236848df097c72b1 |website=Voetbalzone |access-date=5 September 2024}} He played in the final of the KNVB Cup as AZ lost to Go Ahead Eagles on penalties on 21 April 2025. The game had ended 1-1 in normal time after Go Ahead Eagles scored a 98th minute equaliser.{{cite web|url=https://www.football-oranje.com/go-ahead-eagles-win-the-knvb-cup/|website=Football-Oranje|accessdate=21 April 2025|title= Go Ahead Eagles Win The KNVB Cup|date=21 April 2025}}
Personal life
He is the son of former AZ professional footballer Martijn Meerdink.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/298238/jong-az-basisdebutant-meerdink-treedt-in-voetsporen-van-zijn-vader|title=Young AZ base debutant Meerdink follows in his father's footsteps|website=nhnieuws.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.destentor.nl/nederlands-voetbal/deze-oud-internationals-hebben-allemaal-een-zoon-op-de-nederlandse-velden-lopen~a5deedcc/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&cb=bfd8463c3bc9d0632e88113696f9deab&auth_rd=1|title=These former internationals all have a son on the Dutch fields|website=destentor.nl}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 25 May 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Jong AZ
|16 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 2 | ||||
| 2022–23
|Eerste Divisie |19 | 8 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 8 | ||||
| 2023–24
|Eerste Divisie |17 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 4 | ||||
| 2024–25
|Eerste Divisie |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!53 | 14 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 53 | 14 | ||||
| rowspan="4"|AZ
|6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=UECL|Appearances in UEFA Conference League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24
|Eredivisie |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25
|Eredivisie |29 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 8{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 40 | 14 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!37 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 52 | 14 | ||
| Vitesse (loan)
|Eredivisie |7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!97 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 28 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Soccerway|796451}}
{{Authority control}}
{{AZ Alkmaar squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meerdink, Mexx}}
Category:Eerste Divisie players
Category:Dutch men's footballers