Ajax

Matthijs de Ligt says speculation over his future is "making me laugh" as the Netherlands international continues to be linked with a move away from Ajax.

The 19-year-old was asked if he was close to signing a contract with Juventus and said most of the rumours are untrue, per Sport.

"Throughout the year, I've heard rumours and information about me on this topic. You do understand that if I had to come out and deny every rumour, I'd never stop. All I can say is that all these rumours are making me laugh, and the majority of what is written is wrong."

De Ligt has emerged as one of Europe's most promising centre-backs at Ajax. He's been handed the captain's armband despite only turning 19 in August and won Tuttosport's 2018 Golden Boy award, given to Europe's best player under the age of 21:  

OFFICIAL: The Netherlands and Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt has won the 2018 Golden Boy award! pic.twitter.com/6hR3sz6PJb

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 17, 2018

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman told Catalunya Radio (h/t Goal's Dejan Kalinic), the teenager "will be the best centre-back in the world in two years."

Juventus are keen to strengthen defensively in the summer, with De Ligt as a target:

Juventus are planning on making two significant additions to their defense in the summer with De Ligt, Atletico's Savic and Fiorentina's Milenkovic as potential targets according to @FabrizioRomano https://t.co/O9UwKwD1XY article in Italiano

— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) February 4, 2019

Spanish champions Barcelona have also been linked. Mundo Deportivo have reported that De Ligt wants to move to the Camp Nou:

Matthijs de Ligt | Player ‘wants to come’ to Barcelona, ‘willing to give up money’ to move to Camp Nou. https://t.co/ftborLS99y #fcblive pic.twitter.com/VorUprqsKK

— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) February 4, 2019

Barcelona have already snapped up Ajax team-mate Frenkie de Jong. The midfielder will join on a five-year deal at the end of the season, the club have confirmed.

PSG were also keen on De Jong and plan to get "revenge" on Barcelona by beating the Catalan giants to De Ligt, per Calciomercato.com.

Ajax are already set to lose one of their top talents in De Jong, and it seems highly likely they will be unable to hold on to De Ligt past this season. The defender looks ready for a move to one of Europe's elite and may have his pick of top clubs.

Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt has been backed to become the best centre-back in the world in two years by Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman.

The 19-year-old has been heavily linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs, including Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

It seems inevitable he will leave Ajax soon, potentially in the summer.

Koeman, who has made De Ligt a key part of the Dutch national team, told Catalunya Radio he believes he has the potential to be world class (h/t Goal's Dejan Kalinic):

"De Ligt and [Ajax and Holland team-mate Frenkie] de Jong are special for various reasons. De Ligt is younger, 19, and plays in an important position, as a centre-back. He's the Ajax captain and from their school. That is to say Barca's school, because it means that he has a lot of technical quality and tactical nous. He will be the best centre-back in the world in two years."

The quality of sides connected with the teenager is indicative of his immense talent.

As is the fact that he was recently named winner of the Golden Boy award for the best young player in Europe:

OFFICIAL: The Netherlands and Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt has won the 2018 Golden Boy award! pic.twitter.com/6hR3sz6PJb

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 17, 2018

The gong has previously been won by the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Raheem Sterling, Paul Pogba, Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney.

De Ligt's maturity is one of his major assets.

It is rare for a player in his position to break through so young, but he is now in his third season as a key part of the Ajax first team and already has 13 senior caps at international level:

Matthijs de Ligt is the third-youngest player in history to earn 10 senior caps for the Netherlands men's national team.

The youngest in the post-war era. 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/Zk1BZKbpmk

— Squawka (@Squawka) October 13, 2018

Barca look to be leading the race to sign him, and he would be perfect as a long-term replacement for Gerard Pique.

The Spaniard has been a stalwart of the Barca back line for over a decade now, but he will be 32 next month and the Blaugrana need to establish a succession plan.

Given the dearth of top-class centre-backs in world football at the moment, though, the Catalan giants will likely face fierce competition for De Ligt's signature. 

The agent of Ajax midfielder and Barcelona target Frenkie de Jong has said he believes a decision on his client's future will be made "in the coming weeks." 

De Jong has attracted attention from some of Europe's biggest clubs and has become closely linked with the Blaugrana in particular. Ali Dursun acts as a representative for the Netherlands international, and he recently told Voetbal International (h/t Marca):

"I think a decision will be made in the coming weeks. As such, he can focus on football in the month following the Christmas break. He needs to concentrate on that. He is fighting to win trophies with Ajax and the Dutch national team."

The Daily Mail's Jack Gaughan recently wrote Bayern Munich and Manchester City were among De Jong's suitors as well, with a £70 million price tag attached to his name.

French football writer Jeremy Smith referred to interest from Paris Saint-Germain but noted that a move was in doubt due to their difficulties meeting UEFA's financial fair play requirements:

Meanwhile, it is still unclear whether PSG will be able to sign Ajax's Frenkie de Jong this winter, in view of UEFA's ongoing investigations and FFP restrictions.

— Jeremy Smith (@jeremysmith98) December 17, 2018

De Jong has excelled in his three-and-a-half years at the Johan Cryuff Arena, having joined from Willem II in the summer of 2015 and making the jump into Ajax's senior side after only one season with their youth.

The 21-year-old could follow in the footsteps of Ajax director Marc Overmars, who also represented Willem II, Ajax and Barcelona during his career. 

When asked for his take on where De Jong should go, Overmars said the Camp Nou was his preferred destination, per AS: "Barcelona is my favourite, it's a fantastic club, but there are two other clubs that are very close. All of Europe is moving and Barca must do things well."

Despite the firm links with Barca, sportswriter Muhammad Butt highlighted the difficulties they could have financing a deal compared to some of their reported competition:

Frenkie is up in the air. I'm sure his preferred destination is Barcelona but City and PSG (and more?) will make it much harder to secure him. City in particular have more money and can offer Pep.

— Muhammad Butt (@muhammadbutt) December 13, 2018

Goal's Sam Lee gave further context to City's alleged interest in the holding midfielder:

And consider the fact that the whole De Jong/De Ligt situation (plus legit Neves/Ndombele interest) shows where City’s priorities lie in the market. And they want a quality new left-back, too. Not sure there’s room in the budget for a £100m player who doesn’t play those roles

— Sam Lee (@SamLee) December 18, 2018

Dursun has said a decision will be made in the weeks to come, but a January exit is off the cards after Overmars told Fox Sports (h/t Goal) in October that "nobody will be leaving" in the winter.

A summer move therefore looks probable, but the game's giants are making their moves now as one of Europe's greatest prospects approaches a major turning point in his career.

Ajax centre-back Matthijs de Ligt has said he will not make a decision on his future until the end of the 2018-19 season after winning the 2018 Golden Boy award. 

Per Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia), the 19-year-old, who has been heavily linked with a number of top European clubs including Juventus, said he is purely focussed at the moment on succeeding with Ajax:

"I can't be disturbed by other things at this point of the season. I'm the captain of this glorious team, and I'll decide whether the time has come for me to take the next step at the end of the season. For everything else, you have to ask my agent or the Ajax directors. I repeat, I'm focused on Ajax and being the Golden Boy, of course."

Ajax have enjoyed an impressive start to 2018-19.

They are two points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie as they look to win their first league title since 2014.

Ajax have also qualified to the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

De Ligt has played a key role in the Dutch club's impressive campaign so far, and he becomes a bigger name seemingly by the day:

Matthijs de Ligt: 2018 Golden Boy

- Named Ajax captain at 18
- Netherlands debut at 17
- Dutch talent of the year
- Eredivisie talent of the year
- Most caps for Netherlands at his age range ever
- First defender to ever win Golden Boy award

A huge talent and still only 19! pic.twitter.com/ZLTk7f2ojT

— Dutch Football 🇳🇱 (@FootballOranje_) December 17, 2018

As such it is little surprise that he has drawn interest from elsewhere. Elite-level centre-backs are a precious commodity in the modern game, and De Ligt looks to have all the attributes to perform at the highest level for the next decade.

As well as Juve, Barcelona and Manchester City have long been linked with De Ligt, per Ignasi Oliva and Sam Lee of Goal.

Ajax will be loath to let him go. But the longer he continues to impress in the Eredivisie, the Champions League and for the Dutch national team, the bigger the transfer fee the storied club will be able to demand.

De Ligt has a contract at the Johan Cruyff Arena to 2021, and for now he appears focused on continuing Ajax's progress as they aim to return to the the European elite. 

Ajax centre-back Matthijs de Ligt has won the 2018 Golden Boy award, given to the best player under the age of 21 in Europe.  

Italian newspaper Tuttosport presents the award, and De Ligt won out this year ahead of fellow finalists Justin Kluivert, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Vinicius Junior and Patrick Cutrone, per Football Italia:

Monday's Italian sports headlines in English https://t.co/FJX8NmAd0f #Juventus #Napoli #ASRoma #Lazio #SerieA #MUFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/j4qtb2Xzs9

— Football Italia (@footballitalia) December 16, 2018

The 19-year-old will be presented the gong in Turin on Monday.

De Ligt has enjoyed an impressive year, being named captain of Ajax while still a teenager and becoming a regular starter for the Netherlands.

He played every minute of the Dutch national team's UEFA Nations League group-stage campaign as they topped France and Germany to advance to the finals.

Per Football Italia, De Ligt's impressive blend of maturity, intelligence and skill on the ball has seen him linked with Juventus, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

He is already well established as one of the top centre-backs in the Eredivisie and has played a key role as Ajax have begun the season impressively in the Dutch top flight.

The famed Amsterdam club are just two points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven, who have won 15 of their 16 matches this term.

De Ligt has also enjoyed his first taste of UEFA Champions League football this season.

Ajax advanced to the group stage after going through three rounds of qualifying. And they are now in the last-16 draw after coming second to Bayern Munich in Group E.

Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba and Raheem Sterling are all former Golden Boy winners, and Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe won it last year.

Matthijs de Ligt joins the Golden Boy club 🇳🇱⭐ pic.twitter.com/yvquAfDhAs

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 17, 2018

The Frenchman was still eligible for this year's award given he is still only 19.

But Massimo Franchi, who oversees the award, explained the reasons for the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner's omission from the 2018 shortlist, per Ben Gladwell of ESPN FC:

"The philosophy is to launch one new face each year. This started with Messi in 2005—we couldn't just vote Messi each year, even if he was still young enough for the Golden Boy. It is always an important prize, but he [Mbappe] is out of the running to win this. One month after he won the Golden Boy last year, he came seventh for the Ballon d'Or and he'd only won a Ligue 1 with Monaco.

"Now he's won the World Cup, starred for Paris Saint-Germain and is worthy of winning the Ballon d'Or, so there is no need for him to go back and win the Golden Boy again. That's why Messi and Rooney didn't get it a second time either. We inserted him in the [initial list of] candidates because he is still in the right age group, and also because we have an online vote.

"It's then up to the jury and there is no rule which says he can't [win again], but it's like a university graduate who is then asked to go back to college for another exam. He's moved to the next level."

De Ligt's reported value of €60 million (£53.9 million) could increase after winning the Golden Boy, but Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars recently ruled out any January move for him when talking to Fox Sports (h/t Goal).

Ajax's Appie Nouri will tragically never play football again.

However, his friends and former team-mates are determined to make sure he will never be forgotten.

Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong has rejected comparisons between him and football legend Johan Cruyff, saying he will never be at the level to merit such talk.

Football Espana cited comments De Jong recently gave to De Telegraaf (h/t AS) and previous remarks regarding his intuition on the pitch, which has led to some likening him to the late Cruyff.

De Jong said: "I try not to pay attention to talk of comparisons, I only want to focus on myself. It is good to hear that people are talking like that but the truth is I am not at Cruyff's level of talent and I never will be, so it is not something I think about."

The 21-year-old is a central midfielder by trade but has also shown great composure when deployed as a centre-back on occasion, a sign that De Jong is a gifted, well-rounded footballer.

Journalist Valentijn Driessen recently gave a more grounded comparison between the current Ajax star and Cruyff, arguably the best player to have emerged from the Netherlands, per Dutch-Football:

Valentin Driessen in De Telegraaf, "Frenkie De Jong reminded us of Johan Cruijff. De Jong is not a Cruyff, nor a second Cruijff, but the image of a whiff of Cruijff insisted because he possesses a number of qualities that Cruijff displayed so emphatically during his career." pic.twitter.com/E7prG3gcqf

— Dutch Football 🇳🇱 (@FootballOranje_) November 19, 2018

Willem II academy product De Jong has completed 91.8 per cent of his passes in the Eredivisie this season, and no midfielder in the division has a more accurate record, per WhoScored.com.

Cruyff was also a precise passer, but his greatest attributes were in his awareness and invention. He would often orchestrate teams on the pitch—he popularised the player-manager role—and saw opportunities lesser stars didn't.

De Jong made seven assists in the Eredivisie last season—his first playing consistently in the first team—although he only has one goal to show for his efforts in 11 league outings this term.

Ball retention was also a major component in Cruyff's philosophy as a player, coach and director, and De Jong has demonstrated he at least follows the comparison in that regard, per OptaPro:

BLOG: Frenkie de Jong on song. In his first article for OptaPro, @NilsMackay applies a range of analytical metrics to assess the performances of the midfielder. Debut.https://t.co/qjMSlTHNkQ pic.twitter.com/qJGkFTWKay

— Stats Perform Pro (@OptaPro) November 16, 2018

As is to be expected from a youngster earning such plaudits, De Jong is also attracting attention from outside Amsterdam and is said to be a target for Barcelona and Real Madrid, per Football Espana.

It may seem like typical speculation, although writer Simon Kuper picked midfield maestro De Jong and Ajax team-mate Matthijs de Ligt as rare talents:

In 1986, when I was 16, I wrote my first ever paid football articles on 2 rising young Dutch talents: Gullit + Van Basten. Now, after Holland beat France, me for @ESPN on Frenkie de Jong + Matthijs de Ligt https://t.co/CXF1kwe0LO

— Simon Kuper (@KuperSimon) November 19, 2018

Cruyff was 26 by the time he joined Barcelona from boyhood club Ajax, who were then a much more considerable force in Europe and the pressures on young players were not so great. 

Ajax defender and rumoured Barcelona target Matthijs de Ligt has appeared to suggest he could look to take the next step in his career after saying players "feel valued" in the UEFA Champions League, Europe's premier club competition.

Speaking to Fox Sports (h/t Sport) after Ajax thrashed Eredivisie opponents Excelsior 7-1 on Sunday, De Ligt hinted he finds the lack of competition in the Netherlands' top flight dull and could pursue a bigger challenge:

"To be honest, we didn't play at 100 per cent but we won 7-1. The difference between the sides in the Eredivisie right now is huge. The tension is less each time as there's only two teams who are racking up the points. If we keep winning it won't be a problem, but we have to admit that it's less fun.

"In the Champions League you feel valued. You have to give everything and those feelings are hard to find in the Eredivisie. There's a lot more competition."

Ajax have come second in each of the past four Eredivisie seasons, and the Amsterdam outfit qualified for the Champions League this term after three consecutive seasons exiting in the qualifying rounds. They haven't made it past the group stage since 2006.

Sports writer Si Lloyd recently referred to a report from Calciomercato's Fabrizio Romano, which reiterated Juventus' interest in De Ligt:

Be surprised if this happens. Thought Matthijs de Ligt was made for Barca. https://t.co/hMmrS9TlID

— Si Lloyd (@SmnLlyd5) November 10, 2018

It's said Juve saw De Ligt in action for De Oranje when they drew 1-1 in Italy in June and "fell in love with the player, but the Bianconeri perhaps still don't have the same allure to a young player as the Camp Nou.

Charlotte Duncker of the Manchester Evening News also cited United's interest in De Ligt, who was recently quizzed on rumours linking him with the Ajax exit. When asked which team he would pick out of United or Barcelona, the centre-back responded: "Ajax! The newspapers need to write something, it's normal (the rumours)."

The fact De Ligt has captained a revered club such as Ajax at 19 is evidence of his maturity, further proof in understanding what it is his admirers have seen in the player.

Former Netherlands midfielder Arnold Muhren, 67, represented both Ajax and United, and he recently said he felt De Ligt would thrive at Old Trafford, where Jose Mourinho is on the search for elite central-defensive talent, via Goal:

"De Ligt would be Man United's ideal centre-back." 😲

💪 Ajax's 19-year-old has been backed for success by a man who knows him very well! pic.twitter.com/R0o6Z8TUKW

— GOAL (@goal) November 7, 2018

The teenager exudes a calm in his possession and passing that's characteristic of a Barcelona player, and his 11 senior Netherlands caps—accumulated in only 18 months—are further testament to a rising talent.

One would perhaps struggle to find an Ajax player who didn't stand out as impressive in their one-sided win over Excelsior, although Statman Dave highlighted his outstanding defensive contribution:

Matthijs de Ligt's game by numbers vs. Excelsior:

2 shots
2 tackles
2 clearances
3 blocks
64 passes
98% pass accuracy

CC: @ManUtd. 😜😜😜 pic.twitter.com/mgSN5WNV15

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 11, 2018

Europe's biggest powerhouses are sure to be on alert after De Ligt's apparent admission that he could be prepared to search out more consistent Champions League football.

Ajax director of football Marc Overmars has offered Juventus and Barcelona hope of securing star defender Matthijs de Ligt's signature next year, conceding a move away from Amsterdam at the end of the season "is a possibility."

De Ligt is attracting interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs, and Overmars told LaRoma24.it (h/t Calciomercato.com) that while a winter move is off the cards, he can't say the same for next summer.

The Ajax figurehead said: "De Ligt's future? The chances of him leaving in January are pretty much zero percent. What about in June? Well this is a possibility for sure; let's see what happens."

Ajax have established themselves as one of the most prolific production plants of young football talent— taking their lesser mainstream appeal into account—and De Ligt is arguably this generation's gem.

The 19-year-old serves as Ajax vice-captain and earned his 10th Netherlands cap in Saturday's UEFA Nations League clash against Germany. OptaJohan noted he's one of the youngest to do so, which speaks volumes of how special a talent he is:

10 - Matthijs de Ligt (19 years, 62 days) is set to become the third-youngest player to reach ten caps for the Netherlands, after Jan van Breda Kolff in 1912 and Mauk Weber in 1933. Rising. pic.twitter.com/5XIXdGv675

— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) October 13, 2018

Barcelona signed central defender Clement Lenglet from Sevilla this past summer to reinforce their back line. However, the club are also bound to have one eye on the ageing Gerard Pique, who will turn 32 in February and has endured some poor displays by his standards this season.

It's almost certain Thomas Vermaelen will leave the Camp Nou when his contract expires next summer, which gives Barca more reason to go after De Ligt. Vavel's Mootaz Chehade reported their interest is escalating:

https://twitter.com/MHChehade/status/1051167353378103305

Sport's Toni Frieros wrote De Ligt would be valued at €50 million (£44 million), but it wouldn't be surprising if Ajax were to seek closer to double that amount.

De Ligt won't leave his teenage years until next August, yet he's already made 76 appearances for Ajax, and his accolades stand as evidence why clubs such as Juve and Barca are attracted, per Football Talent Scout:

https://twitter.com/FTalentScout/status/1051180295481946114

While Barca have Pique's future to think of, Juventus are approaching the end of one era of centre-back talent in Turin. Still, Bleacher Report's Alex McGovern showed how their reserves are well-stocked:

There's a bunch of clubs with stupidly good CB corps:

Juve: Chiellini, Bonucci, Benatia, Barzagli, Rugani

Bayern: Boateng, Hummels, Sule, J.Martinez

Inter: Skriniar, De Vrij, Miranda, Ranocchia

Spurs: Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Dier

Real: Ramos, Varane, Nacho,Vallejo

— Alex McGovern (@AlexMcGovern11) September 27, 2018

Andrea Barzagli will turn 38 in May and appears likely to call time on his Bianconeri tenure when his deal expires in June, while Giorgio Chiellini, 34, has a contract that runs until 2020, when he could also depart.

A prodigy of De Ligt's pedigree would solve either European heavyweight's issue in the long term, but Ajax are adamant to have their starlet at least see out the rest of this season in Amsterdam.

Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal has reportedly traveled to Munich to watch Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong against Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.

The Catalans have long been linked with the Dutchman and continue to watch him with a close eye, per Sport's Tomas Andreu.

Transfer chatter surrounding De Jong has been persistent since summer, with news outlets all over the continent linking just about every top club with the emerging talent.

No team has been linked more than Barcelona, and their interest dates back to summer. Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo (h/t Goal) remains confident he's on his way to the Camp Nou, and a deal could be agreed as early as January.

Mundo have placed the 21-year-old at the centre of their transfer reporting with multiple stories every week. As shared by Sport Witness, they have suggested Barcelona want the youngster to force Ajax's hand:

Barcelona want total transfer commitment from Frenkie de Jong. Sounds very much like they want him to not be nice to Ajax, and instead force a move to suit Barca.

Otherwise, they walk away... https://t.co/FGGk6Fu53h pic.twitter.com/rkjmDBZXo2

— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) September 26, 2018

Ajax have moved the central midfielder into a more defensive role, letting him distribute the ball from the back. His long-term future still appears to lie in midfield, although some believe his versatility will see him continue in a hybrid role teams will want to exploit.

Barcelona lost Paulinho and Andres Iniesta during the summer, and while they added Arthur and have several midfield prospects in the pipelines, they're still expected to address the position in the near future.

Ivan Rakitic's inconsistent form since the FIFA World Cup may speed up proceedings. Fans have not been impressed with the Croat of late:

This Rakitic performance is one of the worst I have ever seen.

— total Barça (@totalBarca) September 29, 2018

While Abidal may have traveled to watch De Jong in action, there's a good chance he wasted a trip:

Bad news for Ajax. Frenkie de Jong could barely participate in Ajax's training session today and is likely to miss the match against Bayern Munich. pic.twitter.com/sqKrlv4Lcs

— Dutch Football 🇳🇱 (@FootballOranje_) October 1, 2018

Ajax will face Bayern on Tuesday. They beat AEK Athens in their Champions League opener but have been without De Jong since the 3-0 loss against PSV last month.