Manchester, August 31, 2025 — In a world where footballers often make headlines for luxury purchases or glamorous lifestyles, one Manchester United star has silently chosen a different path. Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, only 26 years old, has stunned communities across the United Kingdom by secretly paying off £654,000 in accumulated school lunch debt spanning 85 schools nationwide
What makes the story even more extraordinary isn’t just the staggering sum — but the messages of hope left on each receipt, which, according to school staff and parents, reduced both children and teachers to tears.
For years, thousands of British children have quietly skipped meals or received only basic substitutes because their families could not keep up with lunch payments. While politicians debate policy, the reality in cafeterias is harsh: children go hungry.According to recent data, more than one in five pupils in England face food insecurity, and in many schools, debts have piled up in silence. Parents too embarrassed to ask for help often leave their children vulnerable. Lunch staff, bound by rules, sometimes have no choice but to deny hot meals.“It’s heartbreaking,” said one school administrator from Birmingham. “You see a child pretend they’re not hungry, or scrape together coins for a roll of bread, while their friends eat a proper lunch.”
The Silent Benefactor
Reports began surfacing last week when schools in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and as far south as Bristol announced that their outstanding cafeteria debts had been wiped clean in a single anonymous transaction. At first, no one knew who was behind it.
Each payment was accompanied by a handwritten note at the bottom of the receipt. The wording varied slightly, but always carried the same spirit:
It wasn’t until Friday evening that the benefactor’s identity leaked: Matthijs de Ligt. Multiple headteachers confirmed that his foundation had coordinated the payments quietly, under strict instructions that the children should not know his name.
A Defender On and Off the Pitch
De Ligt, who joined Manchester United in 2024, is already known on the pitch for his leadership and composure. Off the pitch, however, he has maintained a low profile. Unlike many footballers who broadcast their philanthropy, De Ligt appears to value discretion.
When pressed for comment, he issued only a brief statement through the club:Club officials later confirmed that neither Manchester United nor sponsors were involved. The action was entirely personal.
In Leeds, a teenage girl who often avoided the cafeteria out of shame told her classmates that the note made her feel “seen for the first time.”
One principal described the atmosphere after the announcement:
“There was laughter in the lunchroom. Children were trading the notes like treasures. For the first time in years, it felt like hope was served alongside the meals.”
Parents Speak Out
Parents, too, have been overwhelmed. One single mother in Birmingham, who works two jobs yet still fell behind on payments, said she broke down when she saw her balance reset to zero.
“I was drowning in debt just to feed my child. To know someone cared enough to wipe it away — and then left a note reminding my son to dream — that’s not just charity, that’s humanity.”
