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| Marten de Roon | |
|---|---|
| Name | Marten de Roon |
| Birth date | 29 March 1991 |
| Birth place | Alkmaar, Netherlands |
| Height | 1.88 m |
| Position | Defensive midfielder |
| Currentclub | Atalanta |
| Youthclubs | Reiger Boys; AZ; Haarlem; Heerenveen |
| Years | 2009– |
Marten de Roon Marten de Roon (born 29 March 1991) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Atalanta and the Netherlands national team. Known for his tactical intelligence, aerial ability and work rate, he developed in the AZ and Heerenveen systems before establishing himself in English and Serie A competition.
De Roon was born in Alkmaar and raised in a footballing region that produced players such as Vincent Janssen and Ryan Babel. He began at local club Reiger Boys before joining the academy of AZ, which has links to youth graduates like Mousa Dembélé and Marco van Basten. After a spell at Haarlem and the restructured Dutch youth setup following the collapse of Haarlem, he moved to Heerenveen, an academy noted for developing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Riyad Mahrez. At Heerenveen he progressed through youth categories, training alongside contemporaries who went on to play for Groningen, Twente and Utrecht.
De Roon made his professional debut for Heerenveen in the Eredivisie and attracted attention from clubs across Europe, with scouts from Manchester City, Arsenal and Juventus monitoring Dutch midfield prospects following performances similar to those of Nigel de Jong and Wesley Sneijder. He transferred to AZ’s senior team, where coaches utilized him in defensive and box-to-box roles in matches against rivals such as Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV.
A loan move to Brescia in Serie A gave him exposure to Italian tactics under managers influenced by coaches like Massimiliano Allegri and Gian Piero Gasperini. In 2015, he signed for Middlesbrough in the Premier League, joining a squad built by sporting director Steve Gibson and manager Aitor Karanka. At Middlesbrough he established himself with performances reminiscent of midfielders such as John Obi Mikel and Michael Carrick, contributing in fixtures against Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool.
In January 2016 he moved to Swansea City on loan, linking with managers influenced by Carlos Carvalhal and playing alongside players who had represented Real Sociedad and Valencia. Later that year he joined Atalanta, a club rising under Gian Piero Gasperini with a cohort including Josip Iličić, Papù Gomez (Gómez), Hans Hateboer and Robin Gosens. At Atalanta he featured in domestic and European campaigns, competing in UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and Coppa Italia ties versus clubs like Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan. His role in Atalanta’s highest-ever league finishes brought comparisons to industrious midfielders who had succeeded at ACF Fiorentina and AS Roma.
De Roon represented the Netherlands under-21s and progressed to the senior Netherlands with call-ups during qualification cycles for Euro 2016 and FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He made competitive appearances in UEFA Nations League and friendly matches under managers such as Danny Blind and Ronald Koeman, competing for midfield spots alongside Georginio Wijnaldum, Frenkie de Jong and Kevin Strootman. He was part of squads selected for Euro 2020 preparations and contributed in matches against opponents including Germany, Belgium and England.
De Roon is primarily a defensive midfielder noted for interceptions, tackling and aerial duels, drawing stylistic comparisons to players like Gennaro Gattuso, Sergio Busquets and N'Golo Kanté for off-the-ball work and positional sense. He complements Atalanta’s high-pressing, wide-attacking system popularized by Gian Piero Gasperini, linking defence and attack alongside teammates such as Martín de Roon — noted managers, analysts and pundits from outlets referencing Sky Sports, BBC Sport and ESPN have praised his consistency. Club supporters and national press in De Telegraaf, Algemeen Dagblad and international coverage in La Gazzetta dello Sport and Marca have highlighted his leadership and durability in long seasons against opponents like Napoli, Lazio and Roma.
Off the pitch, de Roon maintains privacy while engaging in community and charitable activities similar to initiatives supported by players like Virgil van Dijk and Memphis Depay. He has resided in Bergamo during his time with Atalanta and maintains ties to Alkmaar and Dutch football networks that include academies such as Ajax Youth Academy and regional clubs like AZ youth.
Appearances and goal totals span domestic leagues including the Eredivisie, Premier League, Serie A and continental competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Club career milestones include matches against Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan; international caps include fixtures in UEFA Nations League and FIFA World Cup qualifying rounds versus France and Portugal.
With clubs he has competed for high league finishes, cup runs in Coppa Italia, and qualification for Champions League campaigns. Individual recognition has come in the form of praise from analysts at UEFA and tournament coverage by The Guardian, Corriere dello Sport and Kicker.
Category:Dutch footballers Category:Atalanta BC players Category:Netherlands international footballers