Dries Mertens is a winger of Napoli. He was born on 6 May 1987 in Leuven, Belgium.
Dries’s youth career took off in the academy of local Leuven. In 1998 Mertens successfully passed a trial in the youth system of Belgian side Anderlecht. During five years from 1998 till 2003, the footballer performed for various youth squads of the club, but he did not make a go of it and decided to complete a move to Gent. The team did not offer a professional contract to the winger, and Dries went on loan to Eendracht Aalst, where he made 14 appearances and netted four goals during the 2005/2006 season.
In 2006 the footballer finalized a move on loan to AGOVV Apeldoorn. The management of the club liked the young Belgian’s performance and they decided to lodge a bid for the player, which was accepted by his parent Gent.
The 2007/2008 seasons was very successful for Mertens, because he amassed 15 goals in 38 matches, was voted the Player of the Year and became a captain of his team.
In 2009 Dries penned a five-year contract with Eredivisie side Utrecht. On 16 August 2009, the footballer chipped in a brace in the match against VVV-Venlo. The Belgian was voted the best player of Utrecht after his début season and given ‘The Silver Boot’ by the The Royal Dutch Football Association. Mertens took part in 65 fixtures and found the net 16 times during two years with the club.
In 2011 PSV Eindhoven spent more than €10 million to secure the winger’s services. The footballer went on to net 37 times in 62 matches for the new club during two seasons.
In 2013 the Belgian joined Italian giants Napoli.
From 2011, Dries has been capped for the Belgium national team.
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