Who is Amourricho van Axel Dongen? The Ajax winger Chelsea and Bayern Munich wanted

Karan Tejwani

• 4 Oct 2022 12:00 BST
• 4 min read

Ajax have a host of talent coming through the academy – as is often the case – and they’ve got a fine attacking player on their hands in the form of Amourricho van Axel Dongen.

Van Axel Dongen won the Academy Player of the Year in 2021, and is touted for a bright future in the game, having already made an impact with the youth sides and had a glimpse in the first team.

Ajax’s academy have struggled to produce quality wingers in recent times, so there is plenty of optimism around players like Van Axel Dongen.

Van Axel Dongen’s football education came through Amsterdam, and he is hoping to be the next big thing to come out of De Toekomst – Ajax’s world-famous academy that has produced some of the game’s greats.

What position does Van Axel Dongen play in?

Van Axel Dongen predominantly plays on the wing, usually on the left, and has played in that position since he coming through the ranks.

How good is Van Axel Dongen?

Van Axel Dongen was spotted by Ajax when he was playing for youth side OSV, and he was appreciated for his pace and ability to drive forward with the ball.

He was brought in for a trial and immediately impressed with the team, quickly making his way through the youth teams before appearing for Jong Ajax – the club’s second team.

He skipped many age groups to make it to the second team, which was a testament to his talent, as his ability to carry the ball and be efficient with his output was valued highly.

So good was his form that he was drafted into Ajax’s squad for the UEFA Youth League in 2021-22, where he was named captain, and he scored three goals in the group stage of that competition before Ajax were knocked out.

That caught the eye of current Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, who called him up for the first team, and he gave him his debut in December 2021.

John Heitinga, the Jong Ajax coach, regards Van Axel Dongen as one of the academy’s brightest talents and defines him as a game-changer, something he has often proven to be.

“Amourricho has a lot of potential. He has high expectations of himself. He is a boy who makes the difference. He has great individuality, but can run both on the outside and inside, and has power. He is a boy on a mission, he knows what he wants and is very aware of the steps he has to take,” Heitinga said.

What clubs are interested in Van Axel Dongen?

The likes of Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were all interested in Van Axel Dongen when he was still playing in Ajax’s youth teams, but he only had one objective: make it to Ajax’s first-team.

He signed his first professional contract at 15, admitting he wanted to be successful with the Amsterdam club: "My goal was to stay here regardless. I want to succeed at Ajax."

In September 2022, he spoke highly of Ten Hag, the manager that gave him his debut, saying he had spoken to him since he left Ajax, so there may be something in there for Manchester United to explore in the future.

When does Van Axel Dongen’s contract expire?

Van Axel Dongen doesn’t have long left on his deal. His contract expires on 30 June 2023.

How old is Van Axel Dongen?

Van Axel Dongen was born on 29 September 2004. He is 18-years-old.

What is Van Axel Dongen’s Instagram?

Van Axel Dongen’s Instagram – amojahv – has 19.1k followers as of October 2022.