Kenneth Taylor is the latest talented young player to roll off the Ajax conveyer belt.
He has established himself in the heart of the team’s midfield this season, attracting admiring glances from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Aged 20, he has already won three caps for his country, which included a taste of World Cup action against host nation Qatar.
Ahead of Ajax’s Europa League encounter with Union Berlin tonight, we put Taylor under the spotlight.
Breaking Through
Taylor made his debut for Ajax in December 2020, coming on as a substitute in a 4-0 win over PEC Zwolle at just 18 years old.
He would make two more appearances in 2020-21, before becoming more involved in Erik ten Hag’s final season in charge of the Dutch giants.
After coming off the bench on a regular basis during the 2021-22 campaign, Taylor was given a starting place in each of Ajax’s final five league games, helping the team to clinch another Eredivisie title.
Last summer, the youngster was quizzed about the future and he was frank about his ambitions and what it would take to achieve them.
Taylor said: “It’s my dream to play in the starting 11, so I hope that will be the case. Of course, I hope to play for the national team. If it’s possible, I hope. That’s also a big dream.
“If I don’t get it then I will not be that happy with myself. It’s my dream, and I love to chase my dreams.”
Regular Starter
It did not take long for Taylor’s ambitions to be fulfilled. Alfred Schreuder replaced Ten Hag and kept the midfielder in his starting line-up.
A regular in both the Eredivisie and Champions League, he won his first cap for the Netherlands in September last year, before being named in Louis van Gaal’s World Cup squad.
Schreuder was sacked in January and replaced by John Heitinga, giving Taylor his third manager during the brief time that he has been involved in the first-team squad.
All seem enamoured with a player who is able to sit as a defensive midfielder, or operate in a box-to-box role. His eye for a goal is part of a repertoire that has made him a managers’ favourite.
Taylor has scored seven times in 30 appearances for Ajax this season. This number includes the second goal in the 4-0 win over Sparta Rotterdam last Sunday.
Move Mooted
Former Ajax manager Aad de Mos is a huge fan of Taylor and has tipped him to go to the very top of the game.
Speaking last September, De Mos said: “He is already one of the best players on the field at Ajax. He will stay for another year after this, then it will be Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United.
“If there are two buses parked in front of him, he knows how to make the right choices towards the strikers or players in his area and he is two-footed.
“If the team is compact, you don’t have to be afraid. He has an iron will to defend and has a good head. A very talented player.”
Ten Hag reunion.
Taylor could develop into the perfect modern midfielder. A player that can do everything needed in the centre of the field and is able to fill different roles.
There has already been some transfer speculation and unsurprisingly, a reunion with Ten Hag at Manchester United has been suggested.
Taylor would be wise to consider the experiences of other hyped young talents at Ajax, who have made moves to major clubs.
Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong have both had some difficult seasons since leaving the club in 2019. Ryan Gravenberch joined Bayern Munich last summer and has yet to secure a starting spot.
Though Taylor has the talent to make it to the top, he should not necessarily be in a rush to get there. Ajax have consistently proved that they are a pretty good place for a young footballer to learn their trade.
