Ajax Excludes Seven Players from First-Team Pre-Season Training and Facilities Access

Ajax, the Eredivisie club, has informed seven players that they are excluded from pre-season training activities set to commence on Sunday with new head coach John Heitinga at the helm.

This news was reported and confirmed by the Dutch publication De Telegraaf, citing sources within the club. Ajax’s technical director, Alex Kroes, communicated the decision to the players via WhatsApp. The seven players affected include Chuba Akpom, Carlos Forbs, Borna Sosa, Kristian Hlynsson, Christian Rasmussen, Jay Gorter, and Branco van den Boomen.

The specifics of the ban are quite stringent: these players will only be permitted to use the training pitch and gym facilities after the first team’s lunch period, and if there are two training sessions on a particular day, access is only allowed following the second session. They have also lost their designated parking spaces, and only one physiotherapist will be available for the group of seven.

The Legacy of Sven Mislintat

The decision by Kroes and the executive board aims to bolster the club’s financial position. Akpom, Forbs, Sosa, and van den Boomen were all acquisitions made under the previous director Sven Mislintat, who was in charge from May to September 2023.

The former Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund executive invested €120 million in twelve players during the summer transfer window of 2023, all of whom command high salaries. Unfortunately, none of these players made a notable impact last season, and following Ajax’s qualification for the Champions League, their wages have increased by 50%.

This automatic salary hike means that Akpom, Forbs, and Sosa together are expected to earn over €10 million.

As for Kristian Hlynsson, Jay Gorter, and Christian Rasmussen, it appears the board views them as lacking the quality Ajax is striving for.

The next step for these players is to seek opportunities beyond Amsterdam. According to Voetbal International’s Tim van Duijn, there is already some movement regarding the future of these castaways.