Weghorst leaves Ajax, declares club the biggest in Netherlands

Wout Weghorst, the 33‑year‑old Dutch striker, announced his departure from Ajax today, ending a season that mixed pride with disappointment. He said he was proud to have worn the Ajax shirt but had expected more sportingly, recalling his first Champions League goal and a winning strike against FC Groningen in the 2024/2025 campaign. Two years ago, while driving toward Schiphol airport, Weghorst and his brothers passed the Ajax stadium and he told them, “hier ga ik ooit voetballen”. He explained that he originally only hoped to play one match at the Johan Cruijff Arena, not even as an Ajax player. He remembers seeing himself on the big screens during a European duel with Jagiellonia Bialystok, when the crowd immediately began to sing for him. Reflecting on that night, he said, “Als ik daarop terugkijk, was dat één van mijn mooiste momenten gelijk bij Ajax”.

Weghorst leaves Ajax for Twente after two years in Amsterdam

Weghorst cites his winning goal against FC Groningen in the 2024/2025 season and the subsequent victory over Feyenoord as personal highlights. He added, “Toen we terugkwamen op de Toekomst stond het helemaal vol met fans. Dat was heel gaaf”, describing the packed Toekomst stadium after the win. He entered Ajax hoping to become the first‑choice striker, but under coach Francesco Farioli he mainly served as a supersub behind Brian Brobbey. Weghorst admitted, “De rol die ik kreeg was duidelijk, al vond ik dat aan het begin nogal lastig”, noting the initial difficulty of the role. The missed Dutch league title still pains him, which he described as a “scale, champion of the Netherlands” that was especially special. He concluded, “Dat was voor mij de bevestiging, Ajax is grootste van Nederland”, asserting Ajax’s status as the country’s biggest club.