# Malik Dijksteel

Malik Dijksteel (born 8 July 2001) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for League of Ireland Premier Division club Cork City.

## Career
### Youth career

Born and raised in Amsterdam and of Surinamese descent, Dijksteel began playing football with local club AVV Zeeburgia before signing for the academy of Feyenoord, where he remained until 2018, before joining the academy of Telstar in 2020. While at Feyenoord, he played in the same team as Jurrien Timber, Quinten Timber, Crysencio Summerville and Joshua Zirkzee.

### Middlesbrough

On 2 February 2021, he signed for EFL Championship club Middlesbrough, where his older brother Anfernee Dijksteel was also playing. He played with the club's reserve side, with his only involvement in the first team coming on 11 August 2021, when he was an unused substitute alongside his brother, in a 3–0 loss away to Blackpool in the EFL Cup at Bloomfield Road.

### Whitby Town

He signed for Northern Premier League side Whitby Town on loan in December 2021, making his debut in a 4–2 win over Mickleover Sports. After impressing in his short spell, his loan was extended for another month in January 2022. He made 5 appearances during his loan spell. On 13 September 2022, he signed a permanent contract with the club. He made 19 appearances, scoring 1 goal before departing the club.

### Wrexham

On 24 March 2023, he joined National League side Wrexham until the end of the season. He only featured for the club's reserve side during his short spell with the club, failing to make a first team appearance before being released in May 2023.

### Cork City

On 16 August 2023, he signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Cork City, to help them in their relegation battle. On 15 September 2023, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 win at home to Wexford in the FAI Cup. He made 11 appearances in all competitions for the club by the end of the season as they were relegated to the League of Ireland First Division after losing the Playoff to Waterford, with Dijksteel still committing his future to the club by signing a new contract in December 2023. On 20 July 2024, he scored the only goal of the game in a 1–0 win over Finn Harps in the FAI Cup at Turners Cross. Dijksteel scored the only goal of the game on 6 September 2024 as his side defeated UCD away to secure the 2024 League of Ireland First Division title and promotion back to the Premier Division. On 28 October 2024, he signed a new contract with the club. On 14 February 2025, he scored the opening goal of the game in a 2–2 draw at home to Galway United in the opening game of the 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division season.

## Personal life

He is the younger brother of fellow professional footballer Anfernee Dijksteel who plays for Middlesbrough and the Suriname national team.

## Career statistics

    As of match played on 3 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Middlesbrough | 2022–23 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Whitby Town (loan) | 2021–22 | Northern Premier League | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Whitby Town | 2022–23 | Northern Premier League | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| Wrexham | 2022–23 | National League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Cork City | 2023 | LOI Premier Division | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Cork City | 2024 | LOI First Division | 17 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 |
| Cork City | 2025 | LOI Premier Division | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Cork City | Total | Total | 28 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 33 | 5 |
| Career Total | Career Total | Career Total | 52 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 6 |
* ↑ Includes FA Cup & FAI Cup
* ↑ Includes EFL Cup

## Honours
### Cork City

* League of Ireland First Division (1): 2024