There is a headline-maker in the Ajax ranks at the minute though not who you might think. Fabled for their youth academy decades, we have seen generations’ worth of talent come through the ranks; many of which have developed into top names.
Fans have a lot to be excited about over the next few years, though considerable patience needs to be exercised first. Arguably, there is a ‘golden generation’ coming through the ranks which has the potential to be as good as any other top team in Europe that plays a particular brand of football.
The likes’ of Sean Steur and Rayane Bounida, are of course two of the main talents coming through the academy, though one name that has come from nowhere recently is that of Kayden Wolff who currently leads the scoring ranks for Jong Ajax. Last summer, he signed a new long-term contract, which was a major signal of the club’s intent of their commitment towards him and the faith they have in his potential.
An inverted winger who plays from the left, Wolff is rapidly honing his goalscoring instinct and sharpening the required tools as well, including a right foot that is perfectly tailored to the ‘cut-and-shoot’ tactic.
His ability to beat a defender one-on-one with a success rate of 47 percent this season, creates the chaos needed for their 4-3-3 system. This season for Jong Ajax he has transitioned from a creator to a finisher, which has seen him outperform Bounida for output with five goals and two assists.
Standing at six foot, one inch, Wolff doesn’t have the build of a typical winger, which makes his dribbling skills all the more impressive, while his height is also a weapon in the penalty area.
Garcia’s Touch Can Shape A Rough Diamond
With the appointment of Oscar Garcia as youth team manager, Wolff’s development could turbo-charge, especially with how much he will learn. Garcia had much success honing and shaping the career of many at La Masia at Barcelona and has the required blueprint for success.
While Wolff is explosive, he can sometimes rush his final ball and Garcia’s “La Pausa” method, which teaches when and how to slow the game down can help his game to mature.
Essentially, it is Wolff’s “football IQ” that needs work at the moment and Garcia has proven to be somewhat of a master at helping players understand key elements of a game and why things happen; indeed, a key Cruyffian tenet.
He already has the physical tools and attributes and should Wolff add the rest to his game, he could make a case to be promoted into the first team sooner rather than later.
No doubt, Garcia will be intrigued by Wolff’s performances this season, especially because he has essentially risen in the midst of arguably much “bigger” names. Director of Football, Marijn Beuker has already described him as “quick, creative, and always a threat going forward” and he has drawn comparisons to recent graduates like Mika Godts.
Although Wolff mirrors the “modern Ajax winger” stylistically, being highly technical and comfortable in tight spaces, his physical frame