Ajax remain one of Dutch football’s reference points: founded in 1900, based at the Johan Cruijff Arena, and carrying a European reputation that does not require much embroidery. For Celtic supporters, they are a familiar type of opponent – technically comfortable, used to taking the ball, and rarely short of attacking ambition.
The current side sits fifth in the Eredivisie, with a 29-man squad averaging 24 years of age and valued at around £159m by Transfermarkt. Their season has also taken them through the KNVB Beker round of 16 and the Champions League league phase.
There is clear threat in the forward areas. Mika Godts has led the scoring with 17 goals, while Oscar Gloukh and Wout Weghorst have nine each. Ajax have also struck first inside 20 minutes in nine of their 18 league matches, which points to a side capable of imposing itself early rather than simply growing into games.
The recent league run has been uneven: a 0-0 draw at Heerenveen followed a 1-2 home defeat to FC Utrecht, with a 2-2 draw against PSV before that. They had previously won away at NAC Breda and Heracles Almelo, scoring five without reply across those two matches, before the sequence was checked.
At home, Ajax average 1.9 goals scored and one conceded per match. Away from home the attacking return is the same, but the defensive figure rises to 1.5 conceded per match. They remain a capable, high-value side, though not one travelling with total security behind them.
📈 Key stats and insights
⚔️ How they compare to Celtic
For Celtic, the key point is that Ajax look more balanced than explosive: their defence is the strongest part of the profile, while their attack sits just behind Feyenoord rather than out on its own. The opportunity for Celtic would be to test the less secure away defending and force Ajax into repeated defensive actions, where the corner and card patterns suggest they can lose control.
