Mexx Meerdink
Mexx Meerdink is a Dutch footballer who plays as a forward for club AZ Alkmaar.
Early life
From Winterswijk, Meerdink was in the youth academy at de Graafschap from 2012 until 2021 when he signed up to Jong AZ.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. 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.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 €40,000And €50,000 to his former club de Graafschap. On 19 March 2023, he made his Eredivisie debut against FC Twente. 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.
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.
2024: Vitesse
On 31 January 2024, Meerdink moved on loan to Vitesse until the end of the season.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. 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. Three days later, Meerdink scored a 97th-minute bicycle kick to secure a 1–1 draw against NAC Breda.In a 2025–26 UEFA Conference League 2025–26 [UEFA Conference League qualifying|third-round qualifying] match against FC Vaduz, Meerdink scored the third goal in a 3–0 home victory for AZ, wherein he controls a cross-field pass from Mees de Wit and lobs the goalkeeper without letting the ball touch the ground. The "Bergkampesque" goal drew widespread praise from the Dutch media. His manager Maarten Martens would later say of the goal, "this is why come to the stadium". The strike earned him AZ's Goal of the Year award for 2025.
Meerdink received his first call-up for the Dutch national team in October 2025. However, he sustained an injury in training and withdrew from the squad before he could make his first national team appearance, mirroring the experience of his father Martijn Meerdink 20 years earlier.