Donyell Malen’s Family: Wife, Children, Parents, and Siblings

Last Updated on September 5, 2026 by Siara Costa

Donyell Malen is a Dutch professional footballer who has represented major European clubs and the Netherlands national team. Born on January 19, 1999, in the northern Netherlands, Malen was raised primarily by his mother and maternal grandparents before leaving home as a teenager to continue his development at Arsenal.

The forward is married to his longtime partner, Delisha Chanayla Malen. They have four children: three sons named London, Adonis and Zion, and a daughter named Shiloh. Malen’s parents are Mariska Manshanden and Robert Malen, while he is also part of a blended family with four half-siblings.

Who Are Donyell Malen’s Parents?

Donyell Malen’s parents are Mariska Manshanden and Robert Malen. They separated when he was very young, and Donyell spent most of his childhood living with his mother in Westerland, a village in North Holland.

Although his parents were no longer together, Malen has explained that they maintained a respectful relationship. He remained in contact with his father, who regularly attended his football matches and later became an important source of sporting advice.

In an interview with Helden Magazine, Malen described his childhood as peaceful and filled with love. He said that his parents’ separation was not hostile and that he never felt deprived of family support.

Who Is Donyell Malen’s Mother?

Donyell Malen’s mother is Mariska Manshanden. She was the central figure in his upbringing and made considerable sacrifices to support his ambition of becoming a professional footballer.

Mariska worked as a taxi driver and regularly completed night shifts. During those periods, Donyell often stayed with his maternal grandparents, who lived close to their home. Despite her demanding schedule, Mariska tried to remain available during the day and personally handled much of her son’s transportation.

When Malen was accepted into Ajax’s academy, his mother drove him between their home and Amsterdam several times each week. The journey was approximately 80 kilometres in total, placing significant demands on the family’s daily routine.

An extensive profile published by PSV Eindhoven explained that Mariska never wanted her personal concerns to prevent Donyell from following an opportunity. When he decided to join Arsenal at 16, she initially moved to England with him to help him adjust.

Malen has said that he will never forget the thousands of kilometres they spent travelling together for training sessions and matches. Mariska was also present when her son scored on his senior Netherlands debut against Germany in September 2019.

Who Is Donyell Malen’s Father?

Donyell Malen’s father is Robert Malen. He is Surinamese and played football at a competitive level in Suriname, including appearances for a national youth team.

Donyell believes that he inherited part of his footballing ability from Robert, although his mother also played the sport recreationally. After his parents separated, Malen occasionally visited his father in Almere, while Robert continued attending many of his son’s matches.

Their shared interest in football helped preserve a close connection. Malen has explained that he frequently calls his father after matches to discuss his performance. When he needs football advice, Robert is one of the people he contacts.

Robert also gave his son a connection to his Surinamese heritage. Donyell visited Suriname as a child and returned during his teenage years to learn more about his paternal family and cultural background. He has continued following Surinamese football while representing the Netherlands internationally.

How Important Were Donyell Malen’s Grandparents?

Donyell Malen’s maternal grandparents played an especially important role during his childhood. Because Mariska worked night shifts, Donyell regularly ate and slept at their home.

His grandmother encouraged his interest in football by playing simple passing and ball-control games with him inside the house. She also transported him to training when he played for Hollandia. Malen has described her as one of the people who helped create his desire to become a footballer.

His maternal grandfather served as another father figure and supported his sporting ambitions. According to Mariska, her parents were effectively additional parents to Donyell during his earliest years.

Malen also has family in Suriname through his father. He has spoken about visiting his paternal grandparents and learning more about the country from which that side of his family originates.

Does Donyell Malen Have Any Siblings?

Donyell Malen has four half-brothers and half-sisters. He was initially raised as the only child in his mother’s household, but his family situation changed when Mariska remarried.

When Malen was approximately seven years old, his mother and her new husband combined their families. His stepfather already had three children, including an older son who became an important big-brother figure in Donyell’s life.

The PSV profile of Malen states that he maintains contact with four half-siblings in total. However, their names, ages and occupations have not been publicly documented. The exact division between his maternal and paternal half-siblings is also not clearly explained by authoritative sources.

Because his siblings live privately, unsupported websites should not be used to assign names or careers to them. It is accurate to say that Malen comes from a blended family and has four half-brothers and half-sisters collectively.

Who Is Donyell Malen’s Wife?

Donyell Malen’s wife is Delisha Chanayla Malen. The couple have been together since Donyell’s teenage years and began their relationship during his time in Arsenal’s youth academy.

Malen moved to London at 16, initially accompanied by his mother. By the age of 17, he and Delisha were living together. He later recalled that the experience required them to become independent quickly, including learning how to shop, cook and manage a household.

The couple eventually married, although they did not publicly disclose the date or details of their wedding. Delisha now uses the Malen surname, and she has attended matches to support her husband during different stages of his career.

Delisha maintains a relatively private profile compared with many footballers’ partners. She occasionally shares family moments online but does not regularly seek media attention. The couple have also been selective about how much of their children’s lives they make public.

How Many Children Does Donyell Malen Have?

As of now, Donyell Malen and his wife, Delisha, have four children. They are parents to three sons named London Felipe Lou, Adonis and Zion, as well as a daughter named Shiloh M’kai Sade.

Their eldest child, London Felipe Lou, was born in 2020. Dutch reports state that his name reflects the city where Donyell and Delisha’s relationship developed during the footballer’s years with Arsenal.

The couple welcomed their second son, Adonis, in 2023. Their third son, Zion, was born in 2024. Malen spoke positively about how fatherhood influenced him during his career in Germany, even describing the arrival of his son as a source of happiness and motivation.

The family’s youngest child and first daughter, Shiloh M’kai Sade, was born on February 23, 2026. Her arrival gave London, Adonis and Zion a younger sister.

The children’s names and birth order were reported by Sportnieuws.nl. Although the parents occasionally celebrate birthdays and other milestones publicly, they generally protect the children from constant media exposure.

How Does Donyell Malen Balance Football and Family Life?

Malen’s career has required his family to live in several countries. He left the Netherlands for England as a teenager, returned home to play for PSV, moved to Germany with Borussia Dortmund and later continued his career with Aston Villa and Roma.

Delisha and the children have accompanied him through much of that journey. Their family life provides stability while Malen deals with transfers, international matches and the demands of playing at the highest level.

His childhood experiences also appear to influence how he approaches fatherhood. Malen grew up surrounded by his mother, grandparents, father and members of a blended family. He has subsequently created a large household of his own with Delisha and their four children.

Frequently Asked Questions About Donyell Malen’s Family

Who are Donyell Malen’s parents?

Donyell Malen’s parents are Mariska Manshanden and Robert Malen. They separated when he was young but remained involved in his life.

Who is Donyell Malen’s mother?

His mother is Mariska Manshanden, a former taxi driver who raised him primarily in Westerland and transported him to Ajax training sessions in Amsterdam.

Who is Donyell Malen’s father?

His father is Robert Malen, a Surinamese former footballer who played at youth international level and continues to discuss football with his son.

Does Donyell Malen have siblings?

Yes. Malen has four half-brothers and half-sisters from his blended family. Their names have not been reliably disclosed.

Who is Donyell Malen’s wife?

Donyell Malen is married to his longtime partner, Delisha Chanayla Malen. They have been together since his teenage years at Arsenal.

How many children does Donyell Malen have?

He has four children: London, Adonis, Zion and Shiloh.

Does Donyell Malen have a daughter?

Yes. His first daughter, Shiloh M’kai Sade, was born in February 2026. He and Delisha previously had three sons.

What is Donyell Malen’s family background?

Malen was born and raised in the Netherlands. He has Dutch roots through his mother and Surinamese heritage through his father.