| Merel van Dongen | |
| Fullname: | Merel Didi van Dongen |
| Birth Date: | 1993 2, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Height: | 1.72 m |
| Currentclub: | Monterrey (on loan from Atlético Madrid) |
| Clubnumber: | 5 |
| Position: | Defender, fullback |
| Youthyears1: | 2012–2014 |
| Youthclubs1: | Alabama Crimson Tide |
| Years1: | 2010–2011 |
| Clubs1: | Ter Leede |
| Years2: | 2011–2012 |
| Clubs2: | ADO |
| Caps2: | 10 |
| Goals2: | 2 |
| Years3: | 2015–2018 |
| Clubs3: | Ajax |
| Caps3: | 71 |
| Goals3: | 9 |
| Years4: | 2018–2020 |
| Clubs4: | Real Betis |
| Caps4: | 46 |
| Goals4: | 5 |
| Years5: | 2020–2023 |
| Clubs5: | Atlético Madrid |
| Caps5: | 71 |
| Goals5: | 6 |
| Years6: | 2024– |
| Clubs6: | → Monterrey (loan) |
| Caps6: | 9 |
| Goals6: | 5 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2010–2012 |
| Nationalteam1: | Netherlands U19 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 15 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 4 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2015– |
| Nationalteam2: | Netherlands |
| Nationalcaps2: | 63 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 2 |
| Pcupdate: | 13 October 2021 |
| Ntupdate: | 1 December 2023 |
Merel Didi van Dongen (in Dutch; Flemish pronounced as /ˈmeːrəl ˈdidi vɑn ˈdɔŋən/, born 11 February 1993) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defender for Liga MX Femenil side Monterrey on loan from Spanish Primera División club Atlético Madrid and the Netherlands national team.[1]
She played for Ter Leede and ADO Den Haag before going to the United States where she played for Alabama Crimson Tide. She returned to the Netherlands in 2015 and signed with AFC Ajax.
In Van Dongen's two years at Alabama she managed to become the Tide's single season assists leader registering 10 in 2014. She is No. 1 on Alabama's career assists per game list with 0.30 through 44 games, and her 10 assists in 2014 allowed her to take the No. 1 spot on the single season assists per game list with 0.53 through 19 games. Van Dongen converted four penalty kicks during her career with Alabama, which ranks fourth on the career penalty kicks made list.
In her last season with the Crimson Tide, she was selected to the CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-American team and All-District 4 First Team and named a member of the All-SEC Second Team.[2]
As a junior international she played the 2010 and 2011 U-19 European Championships.[3]
Van Dongen made her senior Netherlands women's national football team debut in a 7–0 friendly win over Thailand on 7 February 2015.[4] She was one of the last three players to be cut from national team coach Roger Reijners' final squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2013 in Sweden.[5] When Mandy van den Berg subsequently suffered knee ligament damage, Van Dongen was called up as a late replacement.[6] She was also part of the Dutch squad at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[7]
On 31 May 2023, she was named as part of the Netherlands provisional squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[8]
Scores and results list the Netherlands goal tally first.[9]
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 May 2015 | Sparta Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands | 3–0 | 7–0 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 22 October 2021 | AEK Arena, Larnaca, Cyprus | 8–0 | 8–0 | 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier | |
She is in a relationship with Ana Romero.[10] They are engaged since December 2021.[11]
ADO Den Haag
Ajax
Atlético Madrid
Monterrey
Netherlands