Seven Ajax players BANNED from returning to first-team by club CEO including former Arsenal man

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Seven Ajax players BANNED from returning to first-team by club CEO including former Arsenal man

A former Arsenal player is among those who have been banned from returning to Ajax training.

Seven Ajax players have been banned from returning to the first-team by the club after receiving a brutal WhatsApp message.

Ajax boss John Heitinga, who arrived from Liverpool, is looking to make major changes to his squad this summer ahead of the 2025/26 season.

And it appears the board are on the same page as their new boss following his appointment.

Ajax chief Alex Kroes has informed seven players that they are 'not welcome' at the club's training base.

Former Arsenal star Chuba Akpom and ex-Wolves player Carlos Forbs are among the seven players who have been banned from returning to the first-team.

Borna Sosa, Kristian Hlynsson, Christian Rasmussen, Jay Gorter and Branco van den Boomen have also been banished, according to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf.

Alex Kroes has told seven Ajax players that they are 'not welcome' at the club's training base. Image: Getty
Alex Kroes has told seven Ajax players that they are 'not welcome' at the club's training base. Image: Getty

The report states the seven players are all available for transfers in a bid to fund new signings this summer.

The group were said to have been informed of the club's decision by a WhatsApp message from Kroes.

They will only be allowed to use the pitch and gym after the first-team have had lunch.

But if there's double training sessions, then the seven players must wait until the second session has concluded before using the facilities.

Ajax's Chuba Akpom spent the second half of last season on loan at Lille. Image: Getty
Ajax's Chuba Akpom spent the second half of last season on loan at Lille. Image: Getty

What's more, the players' car park spaces have also been removed and only one physio has been made available between the seven of them.

Former Premier League players Akpom and Forbs have three years left to run on their existing deals. So does Sosa, who spent last season on loan at Torino.

Akpom, who graduated from Arsenal's youth academy, had plenty of loan spells away from the Emirates before securing a permanent switch to PAOK and returned to England after signing for Middlesbrough.

The 29-year-old joined Ajax in the summer of 2023.

Rasmussen and Van den Boomen, meanwhile, have deals until 2027, while Hlynsson and Gorter are out of contract at the end of next season.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Ajax, Arsenal, Football