"It's raining contracts!" - Youth players commit to Ajax
11 June: Summer vacation...? You must be kidding!
Ajax's technical director, Martin van Geel, is not exactly
sitting still these days, as he finalized talks and penned
contracts (renewals, in most cases) with no less
than four youth players who already have some Ajax-1
experience. In less than a month's time, Ajax have signed
Rydell Poepon, Vurnon Anita, Jeffrey Sarpong and Gregory van
der Wiel. And that was not all. In recent weeks there were also
new contracts for youth players Dionitio
Liesdek, Chakib Tayeb and Richard Danilo Maciel Sousa
Campos (you may simply call him Danilo),
who penned his first professional deal at the ArenA, under
the eyes of his proud father: Wamberto!
No less than four of the youngsters who underscored their
commitment to Ajax have already seen action for Ajax-1,
although the first five Ajax-1 appearances of striker
Rydell Poepon (born Amsterdam, 28 August 1987)
were all in unofficial matches (pre-season friendlies, to be
precise). On 31 January 2006, Poepon was loaned out to
Eredivisie outfit Willem II. He had nine official
appearances for the Tilburg club so far. Poepon's loan deal has
been extended, he is to spend another season at
Willem II, but Ajax expressed their faith in the youngster on
15 May, by renewing
his contract until 30 June 2010.
Central defender Gregory van der Wiel (born
Amsterdam, 03 February 1988) had a very good 2006-2007
campaign. Not only did he do very well for Young Ajax, the
Amsterdammer also got to make his Ajax-1 début (on 11
March 2007, at FC Twente) and finished the season with five
first team appearances behind his name. Van der Wiel made quite
an impression on both head-coach Henk ten Cate and technical
director Martin van Geel and was offered a contract renewal.
His old deal would have expired in the summer of 2008; his
new deal ties
him to Ajax until 30 June 2011. Naturally, Gregory van der
Wiel will start the 2007-2008 campaign as a fully-fledged
member of the first squad.
The situation of midfielder Vurnon Anita
(born Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles, 04 April 1989) is very
similar to that of Van der Wiel: the youngster's existing
contract would have expired on 30 June 2008. His new
contract, which he signed on 04 June, makes him
an Ajacied until 30 June 2011 and officially a first
team player, as per 01 July of this year. Having played for
Ajax since 1999 (Anita started in the E1 youth team) he made
his first team début on 19 March 2006, in the Eredivisie
away game at FC Groningen. This season he had another two first
team appearances, including a remarkably mature UEFA Cup
performance against Werder Bremen.
Another midfielder; almost identical story: having
joined Ajax as a seven year-old boy, Jeffrey
Sarpong (born Amsterdam, 03 August 1988) made his
first team début in the cup game against FC
Eindhoven on 22 December 2005, aged 17. So far, he had nine
Eredivisie and two domestic cup appearances for Ajax-1. The
club offered him a contract until 30 June 2008, which (on
11 June) has been extended
until 30 June 2011. Just like Van der Wiel and Anita,
Jeffrey Sarpong will officially make the step to the first
squad this summer.
In recent weeks, Ajax also signed contracts with several
youth players who did not make their first team
débuts just yet, including left-footed defender Dionitio
Liesdek (18; until 30 June 2009), winger John
Goossens (19; until 30 June 2011), left forward Chakib
Tayeb (20; until 30 June 2008) and Richard Danilo
Maciel Sousa Campos, who on the football pitch goes by the name
of Danilo
and is the eldest son of former fan hero Wamberto. The 17
year-old penned his first professional deal with Ajax,
until 30 June 2010.
Hang on, hang on... We're not quite there yet! Ajax also
signed new contracts with a few coaches of De
Toekomst, most importantly Aron
Winter. Having landed a new head-coach for Young Ajax
(Adrie Koster) on 10 April of this year, Ajax now renewed Winter's
contract. The Ajax great was in charge of Young
Ajax this season, but will carry on as Koster's assistant in
the new season. His contract would have expired this summer,
but has been extended by one year, until 30 June 2008. (MP)
Source: Ajax.nl
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