Wessel Antes
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Ajax has been preparing for the 2024/25 season for almost a month now. The Amsterdam team had a false start with a 0-1 defeat against PEC Zwolle, but managed to recover with practice victories over Sint-Truiden (4-0) and Rangers FC (2-1). New coach Francesco Farioli has so far called on several young players, who hope to make a definitive breakthrough in the Johan Cruijff ArenA next season. Football zone introduces them to you!
By Wessel Antes
Aaron Bouwman (16)
Sixteen-year-old Aaron Bouwman from Haarlem is the youngest Ajax player in the selection for the first training camp under Farioli. The Dutch youth international, who could also play his international matches for England, prefers to play his matches as a central defender. Bouwman recently signed his first professional contract with Ajax, which means he is tied to the Johan Cruijff ArenA until mid-2027.
This Janse (18)
Zeeuw Dies Janse is seen as one of the greatest defensive talents in the Ajax youth academy. The 1.96 meter tall left-footer has an interesting profile and shows himself to be a true leader despite his age. Janse played twelve matches for Jong Ajax in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie last season, in which the man-marker managed to score once.
Youri Baas (21)
Winger Youri Baas made flying hours at NEC last season. In 30 official matches, the left-footer was good for 3 goals and the same number of assists. The Nijmegen team made an attempt to take over Baas permanently, but Ajax wants to see him in action as a left back during the preparation. Baas played 67 minutes during the 2-1 practice win over Rangers on Saturday.
Silvano Vos (19)
Amsterdammer Silvano Vos will look back on the 2023/24 season with mixed feelings. The controller was given several chances to show himself in Ajax 1 under both Maurice Steijn and John van 't Schip, but never really managed to cash in on them. Vos currently has seventeen official matches in the first team, in which a number of lesser actions stood out.
Vos' performances in Ajax's first team have been very unfortunate so far.
Kian Fitz-Jim (21)
Midfielder Kian Fitz-Jim is one of the standouts during Ajax's preparation. After the match against Rangers, analyst Ronald de Boer was full of praise for the Amsterdammer, a guest at Ziggo Sport.”He is very good at accelerating the game. I hope that Fitz-Jim will take another step, because he is very young. This boy really has the insight to become a very good midfielder. He has taken the first step and is doing well.” Fitz-Jim may be able to extend his number of six matches in the first team of Ajax under Farioli.
Naci Unuvar (21)
For Naci Ünüvar it is time to make good on his promise. The former top talent is no longer a teenager and had a mixed loan spell at FC Twente. Nevertheless, Ünüvar will get a chance at Ajax this summer. Unfortunately for the Turkish left-footer, he had to miss the first three games of the preparation due to an injury, but he is on the training camp.
Jaydon Banel (19)
Amsterdam's Jaydon Banel has entered his final year of contract with Ajax. The winger, who played six games for the first team last season, has left an excellent impression on Farioli, just like Janse. “I had only seen images of Dies Janse and Jaydon Banel beforehand. Not too much, mind you, because it's a big selection. But since they joined, they have shown very good things. I am very happy with both of them,” the Italian said in an interview with Football International.
Banel made his debut in Ajax's first team last season.
Christian Rasmussen (21)
Christian Rasmussen is back in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. The Danish youth international played on loan at FC Nordsjaelland in the past six months, but that club decided not to exercise the purchase option in the loan contract with Ajax. In Amsterdam, Rasmussen will have to compete with the youngster Julian Rijkhoff, to fight out who will be the third striker behind Brian Brobbey and Chuba Akpom.
Julian Rijkhoff (19)
Goal thief Julian Rijkhoff hopes to score his first goal in the Johan Cruijff ArenA soon. The striker, born in Purmerend, has been back with his childhood sweetheart Ajax since February. Since then, Rijkhoff has played ten matches in the first team, but in all those short substitutions he has not yet managed to score. On behalf of Jong Ajax, the counter stands at six goals in 13 league matches.
Mika Godts (19)
Towards the end of a painful season, Belgian Mika Godts was one of the few bright spots at Ajax. With his dribbling and technique, the winger showed that he was ready for the next step. Next season, Godts will have to increase his efficiency in particular. In his first 641 minutes (20 matches), the right-footed player has not yet managed to score. He did, however, provide three assists.
Amourricho Van Axel-Dongen (19)
The story of Amourricho Van Axel-Dongen is starting to take on painful proportions. Every time the talented winger from Almere is on the verge of breaking through, he gets injured for a long time. As a result, Van Axel-Dongen has only played eight matches in the first team, while less talented players have played more matches in Ajax 1 in recent seasons.
Ajax supporters expect a lot from Godts this year.
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