Ricarda Kilian, known publicly as Ricarda de Roon after her marriage, is a Dutch homemaker and the wife of Atalanta and Netherlands international midfielder Marten de Roon.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, she has spent the majority of her adult life following Marten across three different countries, building their family life entirely from scratch in Italy, England, and back to Italy without speaking the local language or knowing anyone in each new city.
While Marten focused entirely on his football, Ricarda handled all their administrative tasks, found housing, researched Italian schools, and built the family’s entire domestic infrastructure, making her one of the most quietly extraordinary figures connected to any Serie A player in the past decade.
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Ricarda Kilian Biography
She was born in 1988 in the Netherlands, making her 38 years old as of 2026 and a few years older than Marten, who was born in 1991.
Ricarda Kilian’s exact birth date has never been publicly confirmed, as she has maintained an intensely private approach to public life throughout her years as one of Dutch football’s most recognisable partners. Her parents are known only by their surname, Kilian.
Neither her father nor her mother has ever been identified by name in any verified media source, and Ricarda has never spoken publicly about her family background, upbringing, or education. Whether she has siblings has never been confirmed.
What is known is that she grew up in the Netherlands, completed her education there, and was living near SC Heerenveen when she first met Marten around 2011, with their neighbourly proximity being the foundation of their relationship.
Marten de Roon’s Wife
Ricarda Kilian and Marten de Roon first met around 2011 during the years Marten was breaking through at SC Heerenveen. They lived nearby and gradually became close before beginning their relationship.
For several years, they kept their relationship entirely private before gradually appearing together at public events as Marten’s football profile grew.
The defining test of their relationship came in 2015 when Marten received an unexpected offer from Atalanta in Italy. Ricarda and Marten had just returned from the hospital, having learned they were expecting a girl, when the Atlanta offer arrived.
Marten later recalled that they looked at each other and asked themselves whether moving to Italy with a baby on the way was really the right decision.
They chose to go, and it proved to be one of the best decisions of their lives, but it fell entirely on Ricarda to make it work on the ground. When they arrived in Bergamo, Ricarda spoke no Italian and knew nobody.
She handled all their administrative tasks, found their housing, researched the Italian school system, and managed the family’s entire domestic infrastructure while Marten focused entirely on his football training schedule.
When Marten moved briefly to Middlesbrough in 2016, Ricarda packed up the family and moved to the north of England. When he returned to Atalanta in 2018, she moved the family back to Bergamo, a third country in three years.
Marten proposed to Ricarda in August 2018, sharing a photograph on social media of himself on one knee, captioned simply “She said YES.” Their wedding plans followed, but took an extraordinary turn.
When their planned ceremony was arranged, Atalanta qualified for the Champions League and Marten had to cancel their wedding to fulfil his club commitments.
He apologised to Ricarda for missing their own wedding. They eventually formalised their marriage and have remained together ever since. Together they have three daughters. Their eldest is Linn-Sophie, their middle daughter is Evie, and their youngest is Bo.
Ricarda is a familiar and beloved presence at Atalanta home games, regularly seen at the players’ entrance before and after matches, posing warmly with season ticket holders and watching games from the stands with the girls in club colours.
Despite Marten’s considerable public profile, she has never given a media interview, maintains a deliberately low-key social media presence, and consistently keeps their daughters away from the spotlight.
De Roon Career
Marten de Roon, the Dutch midfield metronome, has carved a dynamic path through the footballing landscape.
Born in Zwijndrecht, Netherlands, in 1991, his journey began on the local pitches of VV ASWH before his talent caught the eye of Feyenoord’s esteemed youth academy.
Six years of honing his skills in Rotterdam’s famed academy, he laid the foundation for de Roon’s future success.
The rigorous training instilled a tactical nous and technical proficiency that would become his trademarks.
In 2010, the 19-year-old de Roon took his first professional steps with Sparta Rotterdam.
While his appearances were limited initially, his composure and passing range quickly earned him a regular spot in the starting lineup.
De Roon blossomed under the watchful eye of manager Marco van Basten, developing into a tenacious tackler and a key cog in the team’s midfield engine.
His leadership qualities, evident in his vocal presence and on-field composure, began to shine through.
2015, the Italian club Atalanta called, recognizing de Roon’s potential. His arrival coincided with a golden era for the Bergamo-based club.
He played a pivotal role in their Serie A promotion in his debut season, his defensive solidity and intelligent passing providing a platform for their attacking flair.
The following years saw de Roon establish himself as the heartbeat of Atalanta’s midfield.
His tireless work ethic, tactical awareness, and pinpoint distribution became instrumental in their rise to Serie A contenders.
He was the anchor that allowed Papu Gomez, Josip Ilicic, and Duván Zapata to flourish in attack. His Atalanta exploits brought him onto the European stage.
He was a key figure in their historic run to the Champions League quarter-finals in 2019-20, his assured presence in midfield nullifying attacks from Valencia and Paris Saint-Germain.
A brief spell at Middlesbrough in 2017 offered de Roon a taste of English football.
While the relegation experience wasn’t ideal, it further honed his resilience and adaptability.
His return to Atalanta in 2018 marked a homecoming of sorts. He seamlessly reintegrated into the team’s dynamic, crucial to their continued success.
In 2021-22, he captained the side to another Champions League quarter-final appearance, proving his enduring value as a leader and midfield mainstay.
De Roon’s international career mirrored his club’s success. He made an impact during the Netherlands’ run to the 2019 Nations League final, where they finished second.
His career is a testament to his dedication, intelligence, and unwavering commitment to his craft.
From his early days in Dutch football to his anchoring role at Atalanta and the Netherlands national team, he has consistently proved himself a vital cog in any side he graces.
His tactical nous, defensive prowess, and leadership qualities have made him a fan favorite and a respected figure in football.
Marten de Roon is an influential midfielder who continues to push through with his career, which should end soon.
Ricarda Kilian’s Net Worth
Her net worth is estimated at approximately $1 million as of 2026. As a homemaker who has spent the majority of her adult life raising three daughters across multiple countries, Ricarda Kilian’s independent income sources are limited.
However, her role in managing the family’s domestic and administrative life across three different countries represents an extraordinary contribution that has enabled Marten to focus entirely on his football career throughout his most productive years.
Her husband, Marten de Roon, has an estimated net worth of approximately $10 million as of 2026, accumulated across his career at Sparta Rotterdam, Heerenveen, Middlesbrough, and Atalanta, combined with his Netherlands national team salary and endorsement deals, including his partnership with Adidas.
His most lucrative contract was his four-year deal with Atalanta, worth approximately 16.70 million euros, signed in 2017, with a weekly wage of approximately 30,000 pounds.
Together, Ricarda and Marten have built a comfortable and grounded family life in Bergamo, raising their three daughters with the same quiet dignity and privacy that has defined their entire relationship.
Despite living in one of football’s most glamorous environments, they have consistently chosen substance over spectacle, privacy over publicity, and family over fame.
