Ajax Cut Losses as Ahmetcan Kaplan Joins NEC

Ajax are set to draw a line under the Ahmetcan Kaplan project. According to Algemeen Dagblad club watcher Johan Inan, the Amsterdam club have reached an agreement with NEC over a permanent transfer worth around €2.5 million.

For Kaplan, it means stability at last. For Ajax, it means cashing out at a steep discount.

The 21-year-old defender will sign a four-year contract in Nijmegen, tying him to NEC until mid-2030. It’s a logical next step after a loan spell that turned into something far more significant.

Last season, Kaplan quietly became one of NEC’s pillars. He featured in 30 official matches, scored twice and left a strong impression with his composure on the ball and aggression without it. What began as a temporary solution evolved into a player the club simply could not afford to lose.

Ajax had once seen him very differently. They brought the left-footed centre-back in from Trabzonspor in the summer of 2022 for €9.5 million, a sizeable investment for a defender still learning his trade. Injuries and fierce competition meant his development in Amsterdam never truly caught fire. His tally there will stop at 25 official appearances.

NEC, though, know exactly what they are getting. Kaplan slots straight back into a dressing room he already understands and a defensive line that badly needs him. With Philippe Sandler sidelined for a long spell, the club were short of a reliable presence at the back. Kaplan fills that gap immediately.

He will not be alone, either. The Turk will share the pitch with compatriot Emre Mor, adding a familiar face in a season that could become historic for NEC.

The Stakes

Because the stakes are rising.

NEC still have their eyes on the Champions League group stage. Only FK Bodø/Glimt stand between them and a place at Europe’s top table, a two-legged tie that will test every inch of their squad.

Kaplan arrives just in time for that fight.