| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1999-07-04)4 July 1999 (age 26)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Beugen, Netherlands[2] | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder,centre back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Go Ahead Eagles | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Manchester United | |||
| 2014–2017 | Preston North End | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2018 | Preston North End | 0 | (0) |
| 2017 | →Lancaster City (loan) | 11 | (3) |
| 2018–2022 | RKC Waalwijk | 118 | (6) |
| 2022–2024 | Vitesse | 59 | (2) |
| 2024–2025 | Sampdoria | 25 | (3) |
| 2025– | Go Ahead Eagles | 11 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 November 2025 | |||
Melle Meulensteen (born 4 July 1999) is a Dutch professionalfootballer who plays as adefensive midfielder or acentre back forEredivisie clubGo Ahead Eagles.[3]
Meulensteen started his youth career with the academy of English clubManchester United,[4] before moving to the academy ofPreston North End in 2014. He further went tocaptain the youth side. In July 2017, he was promoted to the first team and scored a goal in his debut (friendly match) against Bamber Bridge.[2] On 8 September, he joined non-leagueLancaster City on a loan deal till January 2018 to get first team opportunities.[5] His contract was terminated by mutual agreement on 23 January.[6]
On the same day, Meulensteen signed with DutchEerste Divisie clubRKC Waalwijk after agreeing to a deal which would keep him in the club till the summer of 2019.[7] On 26 January, he made his debut againstJong Ajax.[8]
On 30 June 2022, Meulensteen signed a four-year contract withVitesse.[9]
On 25 July 2024, Meulensteen moved toSampdoria in Italy on a three-year deal.[10]
On 5 August 2025, Meulensteen returned to the Netherlands and joinedGo Ahead Eagles with a four-year contract.[11]
Meulensteen is the son ofRené Meulensteen, who was an assistant manager at Manchester United and theAustralia national team.[2]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Preston North End | 2017–18 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Lancaster City (loan) | 2017–18 | National League | 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 14 | 4 | ||
| RKC Waalwijk | 2017–18 | Eerste Divisie | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19 | Eerste Divisie | 29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 5[b] | 0 | 35 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20 | Eredivisie | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 3 | |||
| 2020–21 | Eredivisie | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22 | Eredivisie | 33 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 2 | |||
| Total | 118 | 6 | 7 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | 130 | 6 | |||
| Vitesse | 2022–23 | Eredivisie | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 1 | |||
| Total | 59 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 62 | 2 | ||||
| Sampdoria | 2024–25 | Serie B | 25 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 1 | 30 | 4 | |
| Go Ahead Eagles | 2025–26 | Eredivisie | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4[d] | 0 | — | 15 | 2 | |
| Career total | 224 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 251 | 18 | ||