De Ligt’s estranged wife doubles down on spiritual lifestyle amid marriage strain

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt is facing renewed questions about his marriage after reports that his wife, AnneKee de Ligt (née Molenaar), has intensified an esoteric lifestyle that some sources say contributed to growing tensions in their union. The Dutch outlet DenD reported in July that the couple’s marriage was “definitely over,” a claim echoed by Realityfbi, which described De Ligt, 26, as potentially no longer able to cope with what it called his wife’s heightened spiritual content. The pair married in June 2024 after years of dating, including their teenage years at Ajax, and AnneKee has since accompanied him to Manchester, where he joined United ahead of the 2024-25 season. The report underscores a tension that stretches beyond ordinary post-wedding adjustments and into a clash over lifestyle and personal beliefs that has spilled into public view.

AnnaKee’s social media presence has long featured crystals, tarot cards, energy quotes, and other esoteric topics. She launched an alchemy-focused brand, Annie's Alchemia, and in March she passed a course dealing with flower remedies at the Bach Centre, a foundation associated with Dr. Edward Bach’s holistic practices. Her posts have increasingly centered on spirituality and wellness, with a notable shift since her marriage to De Ligt. She has not featured her husband in posts for almost two months, though one recent update centers on spiritual practices, including a cacao ceremony and a tarot reading, alongside products connected to Annie’s Alchemia. One caption reads, “Sometimes the universe takes you on a journey you didn't know you needed, to bring you everything you ever wanted. Trust the plan.” The content illustrates a sustained and evolving emphasis on esoteric and energy-based themes that predated the marriage but intensified after it.

The couple’s backstory adds context to the current headlines. De Ligt and AnneKee began dating as teenagers while he was at Ajax, and they married in June 2024. AnneKee joined him in Manchester after he transferred to United the following year. Their civil wedding plans were reportedly complicated by football commitments, with AnneKee describing in a prior interview how their ceremony timelines reflected their relationship’s dynamic: their initial May target for the civil ceremony shifted when De Ligt advanced to the Champions League final with Bayern Munich in the run-up to a summer of travel and duties. The couple had even planned a larger party in Italy to celebrate their anniversary, which was ultimately canceled in the wake of other commitments and travel restrictions. The timing of De Ligt’s wedding day and his early departure to link up with the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024 are cited by observers as the type of schedule pressures that often compound personal matters for star athletes.

The questions around the marriage’s status come as De Ligt continues to balance a high-profile club career with international duties. He moved to Manchester United in 2024 after spending his formative years at Ajax and later making a move that put him on a global stage. United’s schedule, coupled with international commitments, has kept De Ligt in a demanding rotation of club and country, a dynamic that often tests relationships when a partner’s personal philosophy is as visible as AnneKee’s esoteric content. While neither side has issued a formal public statement to confrim or deny the current marital status, the outlets presenting the story emphasize that the reports are based on external sources and gossip-driven reporting rather than confirmed statements from the couple.

A second image included in recent coverage—often used to illustrate social media-driven narratives around public figures—has circulated in parallel discussions about the couple. It is part of the broader media context in which AnneKee’s online presence and business ventures have intersected with De Ligt’s career. The image is not a captioned element of the story but serves to reflect the type of material that has fed public interest in the couple’s private life.

Experts have noted that the line between personal beliefs and professional life is increasingly blurred for athletes who marry individuals with high-visibility lifestyle brands. Some observers caution that tabloid outlets may sensationalize differences in worldviews when a partner’s spiritual content is prolific on social media. Others stress the importance of separating speculation from verifiable facts, especially when official statements are absent. The case underscores the evolving media environment in which sports figures are followed not only for on-field performances but for every facet of their personal lives that intersects with branding, partnerships, and personal identity.

For fans and observers, the core fact remains that Matthijs de Ligt’s public life as a Manchester United player intersects with a domestic narrative that remains under discussion in newspapers and online outlets. The family dynamics, the timing of public appearances, and the nature of any forthcoming statements will undoubtedly be watched closely as part of a broader conversation about how athletes and their partners navigate fame, faith, and personal beliefs within the modern era of professional sports.