Mitchell Dijks

Born in Purmerend, Dijks was recruited into the youth ranks of then AFC Ajax partner club FC Volendam in 2009.[2] While playing for the Ajax A1 youth squad in 2011–12, Dijks helped his side to win the Nike Eredivisie league title,[3] as well finishing as runners-up to Inter Milan in the NextGen Series (the Champions League equivalent for under-20 teams) after losing on penalties (5–3) following a 1–1 deadlock after extra time.[4]

Dijks made his first team debut on 5 August 2012 against PSV in the Johan Cruyff Shield in which he played 76 minutes in before being subbed off for Dico Koppers and he also received a yellow card.[5] Ajax lost the match 4–2.[5] Dijks then made his league debut with Ajax on 19 August 2012 against NEC, playing 79 minutes before being replaced by Joël Veltman.[6] The match ended 6–1 in favor of Ajax.[6] He made a total of 6 league appearances playing in the Left back position. playing in a KNVB Cup match as well, all while helping Ajax to win the Eredivisie title in his debut season, making it the team's 32nd Dutch league title overall.

For the 2013–14 Eredivisie season, Dijks signed on loan with fellow Dutch top-tier club SC Heerenveen for the whole season.[7] On 3 August 2013 in the season opener against AZ, Dijks was sent off in his first match for his new club. Dijks was ejected following a reckless tackle in the 71' minute of the match, which ended a 4–2 victory at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.[8]

On 28 August 2014 it was announced that Mitchell Dijks had signed a 2-year contract with Eredivisie side Willem II.[9]

On 26 June 2015, Ajax announced they had re-signed Dijks from Willem II. As part of the deal Ajax youngsters Richairo Zivkovic, Ruben Ligeon and Lesly de Sa will head the other way on loan. On 30 January 2017 Dijks looked to join Norwich City FC on an initial loan deal.[10]

In January 2017, after initially turning down a transfer option to play in the EFL Championship for the Canaries, Dijks instead agreed upon a loan spell which would last until the season ended, with the English club. Having lost his position in the starting lineup to Daley Sinkgraven under newly appointed manager Peter Bosz, he chose to join Norwich City on loan.[11] He scored his first professional goal on Tuesday 7 February 2017 in a 2-2 away draw against Wigan Athletic with a powerful header in the 73rd minute.[12]

Upon his return from Norwich City, Dijks originally trained with the first team, before it was decided that he would spend the rest of the season playing for Jong Ajax, the reserves team competing in the Dutch Eerste Divisie, the 2nd tier of professional football in the Netherlands. Jong Ajax would go on to win the second division title that season with Dijks making 3 appearances in total.[13]

On 29 April 2018, it was announced that Dijks had signed a contract with Serie A team Bologna on a free transfer. [14]

Dijks has represented the Netherlands at under-18, under-19, and the under-21 level. He was selected in the final Dutch under-19 squad for the elite stage of the 2012 Euro U19 qualification. He started and played in the team's first match of the elite stage against Norway U19 and lasted the full 90 while he gained a yellow card in the 54th minute as the Dutch won 2–1.[15] He then played in the Netherlands last match of qualifiers against France U19 coming on a substitute in the 20th minute for Mats van Huijgevoort.[16] The match ended in disaster for Dijks and the Dutch as they lost 6–0 and thus lost out European U19 qualification.[16] Then on 15 August 2012 Dijks made his debut for the Dutch under-21 team in a friendly against Italy U21, coming on as a 46th-minute substitute for Johan Kappelhof as the Dutch lost 3–0.

Dijks received his first call up to the senior Netherlands team in March 2016 for friendlies against France and England.[17]