The next top talent made by Ajax: van Axel Dongen a "very special player"

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When you are seen as a big talent by one of the best academy clubs in the world, then the likelihood of you having a big career in football is extremely high. Amourricho van Axel Dongen falls into that category. The 17-year-old was voted the talent of the year in De Toekomst, Ajax Amsterdam's famous youth academy. That award puts the 17-year-old left-winger in the same category as Matthijs de Ligt, Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Johnny Heitinga and Christian Eriksen. Current Ajax talents Ryan Gravenberch, Naci Ünüvar, who was part of 2019's talents calendar, and Devyne Rensch received the award as well.

Even though the Abdelhak Nouri Trofee, as Ajax's talent price is called, was also won by players that failed. to have a great career, later on, Murat Yildirim, Donovan Slijngard, and Damon Mirani, for example, van Axel Dongen, has everything it takes to make it to the upper reaches of international football. "He is quick, has a great technique and a fantastic vision," Ajax Amsterdam's head of the youth academy Saïd Ouaali said after the U18 national team player received the award. "In particular, his ability to control the ball under pressure in small spaces makes him a very special player."

Thanks to those qualities, van Axel Dongen has quickly made his way at Ajax and into the notebooks of several international top clubs. Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United wanted to sign Amsterdam's talent, but Ajax managed to convince van Axel Dongen to stay at the club and sign a contract that will keep him at the club until 2023. "My goal was always to stay at the club," the winger said after signing his new contract as a then 15-year-old. "I want to be successful at Ajax." Staying at the Dutch champion has been worth it. Just months after signing his contract, van Axel Dongen gave his debut as a 16-year-old.

Youth coach: van Axel Dongen has "to make step to Ajax 1"

The pandemic has meant that youth football in the Netherlands has been limited, which means the attacking player has not played many games for the U18. The coach of Jong Ajax (Ajax II), Mitchell van der Gaag, therefore decided to take on the talent and started him last May when he was only 16 in the game against De Graafschap (1-1). Van Axel Dongen played on his favorite position at left-wing and assisted Kenneth Taylor's goal that made it 1-0. The winger scored in Jong Ajax's 2-1 victory over Telstar one week later.

Van Axel Dongen's debut is part of Ajax's long-proven strategy to give young players plenty of opportunities for playing time. "We were close to playing the season with Devyne Rensch, Jurrien Timber, and Brian Brobbey," van der Gaag said after last season. "They were all promoted to the first team, which meant that we had to promote other players. But it is what it is; it is all part of something bigger. It also meant that Amourrichio had a chance to show himself on a bigger stage, and now he has to show his talent and make the next step to Ajax 1."

Even though he is one of the youngest players in the squad, van Axel Dongen is a big part of Ajax's reserve squad. He has played in five games while also featuring for the U18. In the UEFA Youth League, he has been the acting captain and scored four goals in five games. The winger had his biggest moment in Jong Ajax's 2-1 win over Roda JC when he was brought on in the 81st minute and then just 60 seconds later scored the winner after a great pass from Ünüvar.

From December 1 to 24, we introduce new players from different countries born in 2004. Area managers, users, and data scouts come into play as experts throughout the series. You can follow all those players by adding them to your TM watchlist.