Dries Mertens (Dutch pronunciation: [dris mrt(n)s], born 6 May 1987) is a Belgian

professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Italian Serie A club Napoli and
the Belgium national team. Mertens signed for Napoli in 2013 prior to which he had stints in Belgium
with Gent and Eendracht Aalst, and in the Netherlands with AGOVV Apeldoorn, Utrecht and PSV.

Mertens made his Belgium debut in 2011 and has since made over 50 appearances for the national
team. He was also part of the nation's squads at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016. In
2016, he was named Belgian Footballer of the Year.

Born in Leuven, Belgium, Mertens started his career at the now-dissolved local club Stade Leuven. It
was here that the scouts of Anderlecht first spotted Mertens, ultimately resulting in him being offered
a chance to join the club's youth academy in 1998. He spent five years in the youth setup at
Anderlecht before being released in 2003, with coaches finding him to be too be too short and
physically incapable of competing at a professional level.[3] Following his release from Anderlecht,
Mertens was signed by fellow Belgian Pro League side, Gent. Following two seasons in Gent's youth
academy, Mertens was loaned to Eendracht Aalst for the 200506 season. He excelled with the third
division side and was named Player of the Year.[3] The coaching staff at Gent, much like those at
Anderlecht before, remained unconvinced of Mertens given his slight frame, however, and loaned
him out again the following season, this time to AGOVV Apeldoorn in the Netherlands.[3] On 1 July
2006, Mertens officially signed for AGOVV Apeldoorn, who later dissolved in 2013, on a season-long
loan with the option of purchase.[3][4] He managed a return of 2 goals in 35 appearances during a
season which saw him become a fan favourite amongst De Blauwen supporters. Mertens' form
prompted AGOVV, led by new manager John van den Brom, to exercise the option to sign the
Belgian permanently the following season. It was a move that paid off for the Dutch club as Mertens
ended the season having 15 goals in 38 appearances for the club. [3]

Such was his influence that Mertens was named new club captain for the 200809 Eerste
Divisie season.[5] Mertens excelled in his new role and contributed a further 13 goals for the season
which contributed to him being awarded the Golden Bull award for the most talented player in
the Eerste Divisie.[6] It would be his last season with the club, however, as at the end of the season
he agreed to join Eredivisie side Utrecht. Mertens made 110 appearances across all competitions for
AGOVV during his three seasons at the club and netted 31 goals.

In June 2011, it was announced that Mertens had signed for fellow Eredivisie club PSV as a
replacement for the departing Balzs Dzsudzsk in a dual transfer with Utrecht teammate Kevin
Strootman for a combined fee of 13 million.[10] He scored on his competitive debut for the club on 7
August 2011, netting PSV's only goal in a 31 loss to AZ. [11] Later that month, on 28 August, Mertens
scored his first hat-trick for PSV in a 61 drubbing of Excelsior.[12] Mertens' strong start to season
culminated with him netting four goals in a 71 rout of Roda JC on 24 September 2011, meaning he
had scored 11 goals in his first 7 appearances for PSV.[13] Towards the back end of the campaign,
Mertens lost a number of teeth during a collision with Heracles goalkeeper Remko Pasveer,
although he managed to score during the incident. It was revealed on social media
platform Twitter that Pasveer had found one of Mertens' teeth lodged in his head three weeks after
the players had collided.[14] Mertens ultimately ended the season having scored 21 goals in 33
matches, the fourth highest in the Eredivisie. He also scored three goals in four KNVB Cup matches,
including a header in the final at De Kuip, Rotterdam, leading PSV to a 30 win over Heracles.[15]
Mertens added to his silverware at the start of the following season as PSV beat Ajax 42 to lift
the Johan Cruyff Shield.[16] On 30 September 2012, Mertens and Jrgen Locadia, who was making
his Eredivisie debut, both scored hat-tricks as PSV defeated VVV-Venlo 60.[17] Mertens ultimately
scored 14 league goals, and 16 across all competitions as PSV ended the season as runners-up to
Ajax in the Eredivisie. He also aided his side's cause with a further 17 assists. [18] It would be his final
season in the Eredivisie, however, as at the conclusion of the campaign PSV accepted an offer
from Serie A side Napoli for his signature.[19] Mertens departed Eindhoven having made 88
appearances and scored 45 goals over the course of two seasons.