Matthijs de Ligt added to Netherlands squad for Nations League quarter-finals
Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has been added to the Netherlands squad for March's Nations League quarter-finals.
De Ligt was not initially selected when Ronald Koeman named his provisional squad on February 28, but he has since been recalled after defenders Nathan Ake and Stefan de Vrij withdrew due to injury. Ake is sidelined after undergoing foot surgery, while De Vrij sat out Inter's Champions League win over Feyenoord on Tuesday.
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Last month's omission had been the first time the 25-year-old had not been picked in a squad, apart from when he has been injured, since making his international debut in 2017.
De Ligt has made 38 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United this season following his summer move from Bayern Munich. He experienced a difficult international call-up in September, where he was substituted at half-time during a 2-2 draw with Germany having made mistakes in the build-up to both opposition goals.
The Netherlands squad is otherwise unchanged from the one Koeman named in February, with De Ligt's United team-mate Joshua Zirkzee continuing to miss out, and Memphis Depay returning for the first time since the 2024 European Championship.
Presenting our #NationsLeague quarter-final squad! 🇳🇱#NothingLikeOranje pic.twitter.com/R9MYj3UDSO
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) March 14, 2025
Memphis, 31, joined Corinthians on a free transfer in September following the conclusion of his Atletico Madrid contract. He scored seven goals in 11 league appearances for the Brazilian side during the 2024 season.
Speaking in September, Koeman said the forward still had an international future, performance-dependent, after criticising Steven Bergwijn's move to Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad.
'I disapproved of Steven Bergwijn's move to Saudi but with Memphis, it can be different,' Koeman said. 'The level of the league in Brazil is different, so yes, he can still be part of the national team, but it depends on his fitness and if he reaches his level.'
The Netherlands play Spain in a two-legged Nations League quarter-final tie on March 20 and 23.
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