'Failed policy': Dutch players' union shocked at Ajax banning seven players

The Dutch football players' union VVCS says it is shocked at Ajax's treatment of seven unwanted first-team players.

Ajax banned Chuba Akpom, Jay Gorter, Carlos Forbs, Branco van den Boomen, Kristian Hlynsson, Borna Sosa, and Christian Rasmussen from training with the first team, from using the training pitch at the same time as the senior squad, and from using their designated parking spaces. The club have also allocated just one physiotherapist to the seven players, including Van den Boomen, who is currently recovering from a lengthy back injury.

Branco van den Boomen (L) and Chuba Akpom are being forced out at AjaxStefan Koops / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP

Alex Kroes, Ajax's technical director, reportedly informed the seven players of the club's decision in a WhatsApp message. The executive board decided to ban the seven players in an attempt to force them out of the club and clear financial space. Four of the players, namely Akpom, Forbs, Van den Boomen, and Sosa, were part of the 'Mislintat purchases', a group of 12 players acquired by former technical director Sven Mislintat in the summer of 2023.

The German executive, who worked for Ajax between May and September 2023, spent €120 million on twelve players, whom he gave substantial wages. Those wages will increase by fifty per cent now that Ajax have qualified for next season's UEFA Champions League.

'Failed policy'

The VVCS, the Dutch players' union, led by former professional Evgeniy Levchenko, have released a statement condemning Ajax's treatment of the seven players, calling it "failed policy."

"The VVCS is surprised by the banishment of seven contract players by Ajax. These players are being deliberately isolated from their colleagues in the first team," the statement says.

"The VVCS considers this to be a form of unfair employment practices and unnecessary public damage to players who bear no responsibility for the situation that has arisen. In fact, they are victims of Ajax's failed policy, which at the time gave Mislintat free rein."

Ajax have not responded to the statement.