Ajax are in a healthy position to win the Eredivisie title with just three league games remaining in the Dutch top-flight. They are seven points clear of reigning champions, PSV Eindhoven, who have a game in hand.
The team from Amsterdam have experienced disappointing results in their last two league outings, losing 4-0 at Utrecht before a 1-1 home draw against Sparta Rotterdam.
However, they are still in a promising position to claim the Eredivisie title. The title win would be even more impressive considering that one of their most promising players, Brian Brobbey, has underwhelmed this season.
Brobbey was regarded as an up-and-coming star
For the last few seasons, Brobbey has established himself as one of the most promising up-and-coming forwards in the world game. Last season, he scored 18 times in the Eredivisie and produced eight assists. In the previous campaign, he found the net 13 times in the Dutch top-flight.
His performances were reportedly attracting the interest of several clubs, including Manchester United, when former Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag was in charge at Old Trafford.
It seemed almost inevitable that the striker would be the latest Ajax youth academy prospect to impress and earn the Amsterdam club a hefty fee.
An underwhelming campaign in season 2024/25
After staying with the club from the Netherlands capital, despite the interest from elsewhere, Brobbey was expected to push on and once again be prolific in season 2024/25.
He was the player that many felt would be pushing a renaissance forward in the new campaign. However, this season has not gone the way many expected it would, despite what looks set to be a successful campaign for the Dutch giants.
Brobbey has made 28 league appearances for Ajax, 20 starts and eight substitute appearances, failing to appear in just three Eredivisie games in some form. His record of just four goals and two assists in the Dutch top-flight can only be described as underwhelming.
However, it is not just the relative lack of goals from the forward that is concerning. His level of performance when on the pitch has also dipped. The 23-year-old doesn’t seem the same player who caught the eye in previous seasons.
Maybe the downturn in his goal output has damaged his confidence, which has in turn affected his all-around game. He is still a relatively young player, so maybe he needs a confidence boost to get back to scoring goals again.
With just three Eredivisie games remaining, it seems unlikely that his form will improve dramatically this season. Brobbey still has two years left on his contract in the Dutch capital.
This summer will be key to deciding his future. With him entering the final two years of his Ajax contract, the club may have a difficult decision to make in the near future.
His form this season doesn’t warrant a deal with the club. However, if he is given a new deal, then it will be because of his potential and to protect his value. The last thing Ajax will want is for him to enter the last year of his current deal.
When entering the last two years of his contract, every passing month means that the striker’s value will decline. The other option this summer is to consider selling the Netherlands international, with Premier League Brighton reportedly interested in signing the forward.
However, his performances this season will also have potential buying clubs asking if they should sign him. If he does join a club this summer, the fee is unlikely to be anywhere near what it would have been last summer, for instance.
The ideal scenario would be for Brobbey to finish the season in decent form, which would benefit everybody involved. It may encourage potential buyers to produce bigger bids, or it could give the forward the confidence to return to prolific form for Ajax next season.
Whatever happens, Brian Brobbey needs something to change, or he is in danger of failing to live up to his supposed substantial potential.