Dylan Mertens Explained

Dylan Mertens
Birth Date:20 July 1995
Birth Place:Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height:1.81 m
Clubnumber:6
Youthyears3:–2008
Youthyears4:2008–2010
Youthyears5:2010–2011
Youthyears6:2011–2013
Youthyears7:2013–2014
Years1:2014–2018
Clubs1:Volendam
Caps1:38
Goals1:2
Years2:2018–2019
Clubs2:Telstar
Caps2:19
Goals2:2
Years3:2019
Clubs3:TOP Oss
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2020
Caps4:4
Goals4:1
Years5:2020–2021
Caps5:25
Goals5:1
Years6:2021–2024
Caps6:66
Goals6:4
Years7:2024–
Caps7:5
Goals7:0
Club-Update:18 August 2024

Dylan Mertens (born 20 July 1995) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Russian Premier League club Fakel Voronezh.

Career

Youth

Mertens was born in Amsterdam. He played for SDW, DWS and AFC before joining the FC Utrecht Youth Academy in 2008. Two years later he had to leave and decided to return to AFC. His return was not for long and after one season he moved to SV Argon. In the summer of 2013 he made the move to FC Den Bosch, where he played with the A1 (Under 19).

FC Volendam

In the preparation of the 2014–15 season, Mertens joined FC Volendam on an amateur basis.[1] That season, he played 15 matches in the second team in which he scored 4 times. He also made it to the match selection of the first team two times, but didn't make his debut. On 30 March 2015, he signed his first professional contract with FC Volendam, until mid 2017.[2]

In the summer of 2015, Mertens joined the first team. On 7 August 2015, he made his debut for FC Volendam in the league match against NAC Breda (4–1 win). He replaced Rafik El Hamdi after 79 minutes.[3] On 18 September 2015, he scored his first goal for FC Volendam, the opening goal in a 2–0 win against Helmond Sport.[4] In February 2016, Mertens extended his contract at FC Volendam until mid 2018.[5]

In the preparation of the 2016–17 season, Mertens tore off his front crossband and was unable to play for the rest of the season.[6] On 29 April 2017, 10 months later, he made his comeback in a match of Jong FC Volendam against FC Rijnvogels.

TOP Oss

On 8 August 2019, it was announced that Mertens had signed a contract until the summer 2020 with TOP Oss.[7] However, after a disappointing start on the season, the club announced on 17 October 2019, that Mertens was one of three players that had left the club.[8]

Fakel Voronezh

In June 2024, Mertens joined Russian Premier League side Fakel Voronezh.[9]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Volendam2014–15Eerste Divisie00000000
2015–16Eerste Divisie2921000302
2016–17Eerste Divisie00000000
2017–18Eerste Divisie9020110
Total382300000412
Jong Volendam2016–17Derde Divisie2020
2017–18Derde Divisie2210102310
Total24100000102510
Telstar2018–19Eerste Divisie19200192
TOP Oss2019–20Eerste Divisie1010
Koninklijke2019–20Tweede Divisie4141
Tsarsko Selo2020–21Bulgarian First League25120271
Botev Plovdiv2021–22Bulgarian First League2900010300
2022–23Bulgarian First League2612120302
2023–24Bulgarian First League11331144
Total664522010746
Fakel Voronezh2024–25Russian Premier League402060
Career total18120112202019622

Notes and References

  1. http://www.groot-waterland.nl/2014/08/05/hans-de-koning-stelt-de-nieuwkomers-voor/ Hans de Koning stelt de nieuwkomers voor
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20161012003717/https://zaanssoccertalent.wordpress.com/2015/05/04/fc-volendam-legt-weer-twee-zaanse-talenten-vast/ FC Volendam legt weer twee Zaanse talenten vast
  3. https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/08/07/netherlands/eerste-divisie/nac-bv/fc-volendam/2039557/ Game Report by Soccerway
  4. https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/09/18/netherlands/eerste-divisie/stichting-helmond-sport/fc-volendam/2039617/ Game Report by Soccerway
  5. http://www.fcvolendam.nl/nieuws/item/fc-volendam-breekt-contract-van-dylan-mertens-open/ FC Volendam breekt contract van Dylan Mertens open
  6. http://www.fcvolendam.nl/nieuws/item/drama-voor-dylan-mertens/ Drama voor Dylan Mertens
  7. https://toposs.nl/dennis-hettinga-en-dylan-mertens-blijven-in-oss/ Dennis Hettinga en Dylan Mertens blijven in Oss
  8. https://toposs.nl/drie-spelers-vertrekken-bij-top-oss-ioannidis-is-nieuw/ Drie spelers vertrekken bij TOP Oss; Ioannidis is nieuw
  9. Web site: Дилан Мертенс стал игроком «Факела». Dylan Mertens became a Fakel player. Russian. fakelfc.ru. 6 June 2024. 6 June 2024.