Among the many international football leagues, the Eredivisie isn’t necessarily one that people fuss and fawn over. But this doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of talent or excitement surrounding it. After all, it’s still a part of the UEFA confederation, which gives us a good idea of how seriously competition is taken, especially by those in the top flight of the Dutch football league system. While those in the Eerste Divisie and below fight to make it into the national or international spotlight, Ajax has built a lasting legacy and has long been the most successful and globally recognised Dutch club.
In the past few years, however, AFC Ajax has been in a period of rebuilding, leaving fans wondering what’s next. While there have been much-needed staffing changes, it’s the players on the pitch who will shape and define Ajax’s future.
So, which players could we expect to uphold the honour of Ajax, named after the fabled Greek hero?
Brian Brobbey
Young striker Brian Brobbey has dabbled in the Amsterdamsche Football Club (AFC) for his entire youth career and joined the Ajax academy in 2010. Given that, it’s safe to say he was primed to play on the team very early. Brobbey has also played for the Netherlands national team since 2017 in the Netherlands Under 15, scoring a notable number of goals per appearance (four goals in six appearances in the U15, five goals in five appearances in the U16, and 16 goals in 24 appearances in the U17).
While he left Ajax briefly for a stint at RB Leipzig, he ultimately returned to Ajax on a five-year, €16.35 million base contract. His return has been nothing short of sensational, as he scored back-to-back braces and earned back-to-back Player of the Month awards, among other achievements. With such stellar performances and impressive consistency, major international clubs started to take notice. As he remains the main striker under new manager Francesco Farioli and continues to rake in the accolades, Brobbey is a rising star to keep an eye on.
Jorrel Hato
The fact that Jorrel Hato became a centurion just as he reached adulthood is reason enough to believe he’s destined for greatness. As a youth player, he trained with Sparta Rotterdam, the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, and eventually moved on to Ajax. His ambitious nature and incredible performances on the pitch brought massive attention from big-name Premier League clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Despite headlines galore and the opportunity to play overseas, Hato stayed loyal and signed his first contract with Ajax. Coaches quickly saw his potential, and he earned more first-team opportunities as time went on. Most notably, he was appointed captain of the Ajax under-19 team in the UEFA Youth League.
In the 2023–2024 season, he played just about the entire time the team was on the pitch across all competitions, making him a distinguished talent at just 17 years old. If Jorrel Hato is already causing this much commotion this early in his career, each season is bound to be another significant chapter.
Davy Klaassen
Davy Klaassen is no stranger to Ajax, having played eight years in the club’s youth system, then six years at AFC Ajax at the beginning of his senior career before moving on to Everton. He also had a brief two-year stint with German club Werder Bremen before returning to Ajax for a second time for three years, then played with Inter Milan in the 2023–2024 season. As of 2024, he’s back at Ajax on a one-year contract.
Although we aren’t quite certain what’s next for Klaassen (if he’ll extend his contract or not), his contributions to the team are often integral. Right before he left the Eredivisie, he captained Ajax for the 2015–2016 season. And right when he returned, he quickly became a key player in the midfield again, helping the club win the Eredivisie title two seasons in a row. Now, Klaassen is in his third spell at Ajax, and it’s going relatively strong. It’s only fitting that he scored his 100th official goal for the club, given his impact for the team across his footballing career.
Kenneth Taylor
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Kenneth Taylor is another product of Ajax’s youth academy. He spent nine long years in his youth career and then signed with Jong Ajax and subsequently AFC Ajax after four years. While he didn’t have an explosive start that landed him straight into the starting lineup, he steadily went from being a substitute to a more frequent feature, eventually becoming a regular starter in midfield by the 2022–2023 season. All that hard work was worth it, as his performances qualified him for Ajax Talent of the Year.
What’s most admirable is that Taylor remained a key figure on the pitch even during one of the club’s most disorderly seasons (2023–2024 season), scoring 8 goals in 47 appearances. The best footballers have a knack for performing under pressure, and his ability to do so reinforces his value to Ajax’s roster. Taylor still has a way to go in his development, but there’s no doubting his status as a unique talent.
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