Matt Dibley-Dias
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Max Dibley-Dias | ||
| Date of birth | 29 October 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Lower Hutt, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Central midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Fulham | ||
| Number | 49 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2011 | West Ham United | ||
| 2011–2016 | Brentford | ||
| 2016– | Fulham | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022– | Fulham | 0 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:16, 2 November 2023 (UTC) | |||
Matthew Max Dibley-Dias (born 29 October 2003) is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Fulham.
Early life and family[edit]
Dibley-Dias was born in Lower Hutt, New Zealand to a Brazilian father and a New Zealand mother. He moved to England with his family at a young age.[2][3] He is the grandson of Brazilian footballer Manoelzinho,[4] and is eligible to represent Portugal and Brazil internationally through his father.[5][6]
Career[edit]
Dibley-Dias has been described as "in strong form for Fulham’s U-21 side and as "being touted as a first-team player in waiting".[7] He mainly operates as a midfielder and is known for his long-shooting ability.[8][2]
He joined the youth academy of English Premier League side Fulham at the age of fourteen,[9] and signed a three-year professional contract with the club in September 2021.[2] In 2023 he signed a contract extension to 2027.[10] He received the Johnny Haynes academy player of the year award for the 2022/23 season.[11][12] He has appeared on Fulham's bench four times, including at the end of their 2022–23 Premier League season and for their 2023–24 season opener.[5][11]
He accepted a call-up to play in friendly matches on behalf of the All Whites in October 2023, but was unable to play due to a hamstring injury.[5][13] All Whites coach Darren Bazeley said the injury was a "real shame".[13] The New Zealand Herald noted that Dibley-Dias "has been pursued by Bazeley and New Zealand Football for a long time".[14] He had previously rejected an offer to play for New Zealand at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup due to opportunities with Fulham.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ "Matt Dibley-Dias". Fulham F.C. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "Kiwi midfielder Matt Dibley-Dias signs pro football contract for English club Fulham". Stuff. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Robinson, Nick (29 September 2023). "Squad Yarns & Preview". The Niche Cache. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "Matt Dibley-Dias: The Story So Far". Fulham FC. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Voerman, Andrew (22 September 2023). "All Whites secure promising Fulham midfielder Matt Dibley-Dias for October friendlies". Stuff. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Braga, Thiago (18 April 2021). "Neto de ex-jogador do Corinthians brilha na Inglaterra; seleções já sondam". UOL. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "Dibley-Dias on verge of breaking into English Premier League". Friends of Football NZ. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "Silva's faith in Fulham's future". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023.
- ^ Vegas, Paul (9 September 2023). "Matt Dibley-Dias delighted penning new deal". Tribal Football. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ a b Voerman, Andrew (17 September 2023). "Darren Bazeley eager to meet dual-national prospects around All Whites match in London". The Post. Wellington. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ a b Smith, Dom (16 November 2023). "Fulham may have a generational talent as best young stars assessed". Evening Standard. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Bazeley confirms Fulham teenager will join All Whites for October internationals". Friends of Football. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ a b Rollo, Phillip (12 October 2023). "Fulham teenager Matt Dibley-Dias ruled out of All Whites matches". Stuff. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "Teenage Premier League midfielder included in All Whites squad for first time, Sarpreet Singh also returns for October games". The New Zealand Herald. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.