Mohamed Abdalla is making a significant impact with Jong Ajax, impressing Willem Weijs, according to a report from ESPN. The promising midfielder is consistently shining at Sportpark de Toekomst, earning recognition as one of the club’s brightest young talents.
“I have to be honest, I didn’t expect him to immediately become a starter for us,” said Weijs, the former coach of Jong Ajax. “I had some doubts about his style of play. With the Under 19 team, he would pick up the ball everywhere and then try to take on a defender. I wondered if he could do that in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.”
It quickly became clear that Abdalla was capable of performing at the second tier of Dutch football. Weijs initially gave the midfielder two substitute appearances, where the young talent proved he was ready for a starting role in Jong Ajax. “He surprised me quite a bit. After a few weeks, he was also dominant with his dribbling for us. It’s been happening very quickly.”
Weijs described the 16-year-aged midfielder as a dynamic player. “Not super creative like Abdellah Ouazane, but a box-to-box midfielder who combines excellent technical skills with a strong body and the ability to win duels,” the coach explained.
Tekst gaat verder onder de foto.
“He can quickly turn away from defenders, his first touch is solid, his passing is decent, and he can cross the field with his dribbling,” Weijs continued, noting that Abdalla was recently included in the matchday squad for Ajax 1 on March 1st. “He also has the power to fight in duels and win the ball.”
Abdalla isn’t resting on his laurels as a rising talent. The midfielder also stands out due to his eagerness to improve. “At Ajax, we worked with an online system where players could review their own matches. Abdalla watched everything back and actively asked for feedback. He would select his own actions and ask what he could have done better.”
While Abdalla is making a big impression at Ajax, both Weijs and the player himself know there’s still room for growth. “Defensive positioning, for example. Making those hard yards in the transition. And choosing the right moments to use his dribbling. There’s still potential to be unlocked.”
Abdalla joined Ajax from the youth academy of PSV in the summer of 2024, and the move has proven to be a success. The young midfielder is quickly progressing, and a debut for Ajax 1 this year isn’t out of the question. “It seems logical to me that he has the qualities to succeed at Ajax,” Weijs concluded.
