Clubless Mitchell Dijks admits fitness concerns after Vietnam spell

Mitchell Dijks has acknowledged that he is well above his usual playing weight as he looks for a new club following his departure from Nam Dinh FC. The 33-year-old left-back told ESPN that he weighed 104 kilograms when he recently tested his fitness, compared with his normal fit weight of 92 kilograms.

As reported by FCUpdate, Dijks spoke candidly about his condition during ESPN’s Transfer Deadline Show. After initially prompting disbelief from presenter Milan van Dongen, the defender insisted the figure was genuine and admitted: “I really was a bit chubby.”

Dijks said he began gaining weight during his time in Vietnam, where he felt the football was played at a lower intensity. He also pointed to his appetite and said he now needs to pay closer attention to what he eats. The defender suggested that covering only around seven kilometres during matches had also contributed to the problem.

The former Ajax player left Fortuna Sittard for Nam Dinh in the summer of 2025 but has since moved on from the Vietnamese club. He is currently unattached and seeking the next step in his career. Dijks indicated that a return to the Netherlands is not necessarily his priority, with another opportunity in Asia his preferred outcome.