AnneKee Molenaar has opened up about the emotional toll of her divorce from Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt, describing the separation as an intensely painful experience that left her feeling vulnerable.
The 26-year-old model separated from the Dutch footballer, 27, last year, just 12 months after they married in June 2024. Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Molenaar insists that affection remains between them and that their decision to part ways was not driven by a dramatic falling-out.
Speaking to RTL Boulevard, she described the past year as a period of profound change, grief and personal adjustment.
She said the separation caused pain that felt physical rather than simply emotional, comparing the experience to undergoing open-heart surgery.
AnneKee Molenaar Describes Divorce as a Period of Grief
Molenaar said accepting the end of her marriage had been one of the most difficult experiences of her life.
She explained that the sudden change left her missing the relationship they had shared for years, while forcing her to confront the reality that their future together would be different from what she had imagined.
“It has been a tough year,” she said, while also expressing gratitude for what the period had taught her.
Describing the intensity of her emotions, Molenaar said she felt bruised, fragile and exposed, using the image of a heart undergoing surgery to explain how deeply the breakup affected her.
She also acknowledged that outsiders might assume a major incident had caused the marriage to end, but insisted that this was not the case.
According to Molenaar, the couple eventually recognised that their relationship no longer had a romantic dimension, despite the love and history they continued to share.
Model Insists There Is Still Love Between the Former Couple
Although their marriage ended after years together, Molenaar said she and De Ligt still care deeply for each other.
She described their decision to separate as an act of love rather than a rejection of everything they had built together.
The former couple had been together since De Ligt’s teenage years at Ajax, long before he became an established name in European football. He proposed in 2023, and they married the following year.
Their relationship therefore spanned a significant period of personal and professional development for the defender.
Molenaar’s comments suggest that the decision to end the marriage was difficult precisely because of that shared history.
She said they had enjoyed wonderful years together but ultimately accepted that they needed to move forward separately.
De Ligt’s Ex-Wife Addresses Reports About Her Spiritual Interests
Reports published previously suggested that Molenaar’s growing interest in spirituality had become a source of tension in the relationship.
Her interests include crystals, tarot cards, flower remedies and alchemy, subjects she regularly discusses on social media.
According to the Dutch entertainment outlet Realityfbi, De Ligt had reportedly grown frustrated with what was described as her increasingly intense spiritual content. However, Molenaar’s latest comments do not establish that these interests caused their separation.
She has continued to pursue those passions since the breakup and is working on a book about alchemy, a subject historically associated with attempts to transform ordinary metals into gold, alongside broader philosophical and spiritual traditions.
In March last year, she completed a course involving flower remedies at the Bach Centre, an organisation associated with the teachings of British physician Edward Bach.
Bach developed a system of flower remedies based on the belief that emotional states were connected to illness. Molenaar has continued exploring his teachings, according to her social media activity.
Her ongoing work in these areas suggests that spirituality remains an important part of her personal interests, regardless of the speculation surrounding her marriage.
Manchester United Defender Has Moved On With Amber Yuusef
De Ligt has since begun a relationship with model Amber Yuusef.
The pair were photographed kissing and embracing in Ibiza in June, prompting the defender to address speculation about their relationship on Realityfbi’s Instagram account.
He also responded to claims involving an alleged screenshot suggesting Yuusef was interested in him because of his fame and money. De Ligt dismissed the screenshot as fake and said he would not usually respond to such claims.
He explained that he and Yuusef were getting to know each other and wanted to do so privately.
Yuusef has previously been linked romantically with Jobe Bellingham, the brother of Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham, after the pair were reportedly seen cuddling last year.
Molenaar, meanwhile, is single and has indicated that she remains open to finding love again.
De Ligt’s Injury Adds to Difficult Period at Manchester United
Away from his personal life, De Ligt has also been working towards a return to action after a prolonged injury problem.
The defender underwent surgery in May and has yet to feature for Manchester United this season, although he was named among the substitutes for the match against Atletico Madrid.
Manager Michael Carrick has offered an encouraging assessment of his recovery, saying he is comfortable with the prospect of De Ligt playing again.
Carrick acknowledged that the timing and amount of game time would need to be managed carefully, noting that the defender had participated in a friendly against Lausanne and completed a substantial amount of training.
The injury also ruled De Ligt out of the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, bringing an end to uncertainty surrounding his availability.
In May, the defender said he had spent months pushing himself in training and exploring options to return to football, while thanking those who had supported him through a difficult period.
He also reaffirmed his determination to represent Manchester United and return in front of the club’s supporters.
Molenaar Looks Ahead After a Painful Separation
For Molenaar, the end of her marriage has become a period of reflection and personal change.
Her account makes clear that the separation was painful, but she has rejected the suggestion that it was necessarily the result of a dramatic dispute between the former couple.
Instead, she has portrayed the breakup as a difficult acceptance that their romantic relationship had run its course.
With De Ligt pursuing his recovery and a new relationship, and Molenaar concentrating on her spiritual interests and writing, the former couple appear to be moving forward along separate paths.
Despite the pain she described, Molenaar’s message remains that the end of a marriage does not automatically erase the affection shared during it.
