The Dutch side are looking for the next young stars capable of reaching great heights. Goal looks at those currently shining in the youth system
Nearing the end of a spectacular season, Ajax are reaping the benefits of their formidable youth system and scouting network.
But with one star player already heading to Barcelona and Europe's top teams eyeing up their 19-year-old captain, the Dutch giants are already in danger of seeing this promising group torn apart in the summer.
The Amsterdam side are already looking for replacements for the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt and are already lining up summer transfers to plug those gaps, having sealed the signing of Razvan Marin from Standard Liege and Kik Pierie from Heerenveen.
Luckily for coach Erik ten Hag, Ajax also have a wealth of talent to call upon in their academy, with several budding stars excelling for the youth teams.
Here, Goal looks at the youngsters hoping to break into the senior squad in the next few years.
Pro ShotsRyan Gravenberch
He is just 16 years old, but Ryan Gravenberch has already made his Ajax debut and has become a regular for Netherlands Under 19s.
The central midfielder broke Clarence Seedorf's record as Ajax's youngest ever player when he made a brief appearance against PSV in September. He played a full 90 minutes in the KNVB Beker just a few days later as they trounced amateur side Te Werve, becoming the youngest scorer in the Amsterdam side's history, too.
He has not turned out for the senior side since, but he is holding his own against professionals as a key player for Jong Ajax, having made 27 appearances in the second division.
"I'm pretty tall for a 16-year-old, so sometimes I don't realise that I'm a boy of that age," he said recently. "I feel like I'm just 18 or 19, like those other guys. I'm 16 and now I play against players who are 32. Of course they are physically stronger and also walk more. In the beginning I had to get used to that, but now things are going better."
AdvertisementGetty ImagesBrian Brobbey
Brian Brobbey is one of those strikers who makes an immediate impression on anyone watching him.
Brobbey only turned 17 in February, but he is currently excelling with Ajax's Under 19s with an awesome goal record. He has been sailing through the youth academy since joining in 2010 and is blessed with a wealth of talent. He even already has 13 goals in 19 games for Netherlands Under 17s.
"Brian Brobbey is the quickest here at Ajax," Under 19s boss John Heitinga told in January. "He does 30m in 3.7 seconds. He is 16, 91kg, his body fat is low, and his one leg jumping is higher than Cristiano Ronaldo."
He has already featured twice for the reserves, so it would be no surprise to see him take on the experienced professionals in the second tier more regularly before long. The Ajax first team is the target, however, and he hopes to be in it by 2020. If he keeps scoring at this rate, he will likely meet his deadline.
PROSHOTSSontje Hansen
Sontje Hansen is another Ajax prospect excelling at a level beyond his years.
The 16-year-old looked great for the Under 17s last season and was quickly moved up to the Under 19s this term.
Although he was initially seen as a striker, he has been used on both wings and in an attacking midfield role by coach John Heitinga, proving capable of scoring or creating goals from any position.
Having already shown he can compete with older players, his first-team debut may not be too far away.
ProShotsVictor Jensen
Signed from Copenhagen for €3.5 million in 2017, Victor Jensen became the latest in a long list of Danes to head to Amsterdam.
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder was introduced to the Under 19s, but he was immediately pushing for a place in the reserves.
This season, he has made 20 appearances in the second tier of Dutch football with Jong Ajax and seems to be adapting well.
The Denmark Under 19 international recently netted his first goal for the Eerste Divisie team, getting the second in a 5-1 win over Roda JC.