Meet Ajax's new generation of youngsters who will soon have the rest of Europe paying attention

Ajax have more players developed in and nurtured in their youth system playing in Europe’s top leagues than any other club, making their Academy, simply called De Toekomst (The Future) one of the world’s most revered football institutions.

Having sold Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Donny van de Beek for a combined total of around £180m in the last two years, attention has turned to a younger generation of players coming through who will soon be attracting interest from scouts from all over the continent.

With the emphasis, as dictated by the club’s most famous former player, Johan Cruyff, on individual player development rather than team success at age group level, Ajax have been a model many have tried to replicate without achieving the same level of success.

And ominously for the rest of Europe, the same principles and methods are now being applied to the development of female footballers, which is why many believe European Champions Holland will go on to become world champions over the course of the next decade.

But who are the players creating a buzz in Amsterdam who could well be playing in the Premier League in the not too distant future.

Ryan Gravenberch

There has been a lot expected of the midfielder ever since he was awarded the Abdelhak Nouri Trophy in 2018, named after the former Ajax player who collapsed on the pitch in 2017 with cardiac arrythmia, leaving him with severe brain damage. The award is given to the Academy player of the year. It is an honour and a privilege, but it creates plenty of pressure on those who receive it.

Gravenbach, who has represented Holland at age group level since he was 16, made his first-team debut just three months later and has been regularly exposed to competitive football since.

The midfielder is still just 18 but is now a regular in the starting XI and is already regarded as one of the best players in his position in the Eredivisie, sitting in front of the back four where he can link defence and attack. Athletic and technically proficient, he is a classic Ajax midfielder. His predecessor, De Jong, excelled in that role before his high profile move to Barcelona in the summer of 2019.

Lassina Traoré

Has been tasked with leading the line at times this season as a lone striker, with the team’s top goalscorer for the last two years and captain, Dusan Tadic, dropping a little deeper so that the 20-year-old can come into the first team and accelerate his development. Traoré scored 13 goals in just 17 games for the second team last season.

Signed for Ajax’s development squad two years ago, the Burkina Faso international (three goals in eight international appearances) has all the physical attributes you would want in a modern striker. He left Africa for the Netherlands after he was spotted playing for Rahimo in his home country and signed for Ajax feeder club Ajax Cape Town in South Africa.

He has not quite had the anticipated goalscoring impact, netting just once in nine first team appearances last season but has been involved in all five games this term and was instrumental in the 5-1 thrashing of Heerenveen at the weekend.

Perr Schuurs

Not strictly one of their own but the 20-year-old centre-back, who does not even look like he has started shaving yet, made his debut for Fortuna Sittard when he was just 16. That caught Ajax’s eye and although they may not have the money to rival the richest European clubs, they are comfortably able to offer more attractive financial incentives to domestic players, luring Schuurs to Amsterdam two years ago.

His progress since has been gradual, but he is starting to make an impression and was called up to the Holland squad for the first time last month in recognition of his impressive form.

Jurgen Ekkelenkamp

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has had to be a little more patient than some of the others who have broken into the first team in recent years but adds depth to the squad and has been heavily involved in first-team games this season.

This is expected to be his breakthrough season and there is a lot expected from a player who will inevitably be compared to Van de Beek

Jurriën Timber

This will almost certainly be the year the right sided winger/wing-back breaks into the senior side and the Holland Under-19 international has been tipped for the top for some time. Ajax gave him a new long-term contract that will keep him at the club until 2024, a sure sign they are expecting him to break into the first team. His twin brother, Quinten, is also playing for De Jong Ajax.

Others to keep an eye on who are currently performing well for De Jong

Kenneth Taylor ( defensive midfield), Youri Regeer (defence), Devyne Rensch (versatile defender), Brian Brobbey (striker) and Naci Unuvar (attacking midfielder/ forward).