The Ajax squad is one chock-full of players with Premier League collections. Aston Villa supporters will know the name of Steven Bergwijn, who spent a couple of years at Tottenham Hotspur before returning to the Netherlands in 2023.
Jordan Henderson captained Liverpool to their first – and so far only – top-flight title. Carlos Forbs is a Manchester City academy graduate who nearly joined West Ham United last summer.
Borna Sosa also had his fair share of English-based suitors. The much-maligned £20 million centre-back Josip Sutalo confirmed that Arsenal had shown an interest before he headed to the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Aston Villa face Ajax in European clash
March’s meeting between the two sides in the Europa Conference League last-16, meanwhile, will see Aston Villa go up against a striker who cost Ajax a cool £13 million after winning the Championship’s Golden Boot award with Middlesbrough.
A striker who, had Steve Bruce got his wish, might have found himself preparing for a meeting with his former employers next month.
According to the Daily Mail, Bruce wanted Villa to sign Chuba Akpom on loan from Arsenal in 2017. The London-born forward had enjoyed a productive spell under the veteran manager at Hull City that previous season. He netted seven times as Bruce led The Tigers to promotion.
Akpom would join Villa’s then-Championship rivals Brighton instead (how far both clubs have come in the last seven years). It would take until 2022, meanwhile, for the well-travelled Akpom to finally plug into the potential that so intrigued Arsene Wenger at the Emirates.
While Ajax will not look back in a pretty dismal season with much fondness, that £13 million move to Amsterdam will forever remain a source of pride for the late-blooming Akpom, earning himself that big break at one of Europe’s most historic clubs after plundering a club-record 29 goals for Boro under Michael Carrick.
Steve Bruce wanted striker at Villa Park
Akpom has been far from prolific at Ajax, in contrast to his time in England’s north wet. Across nearly 30 games, he’s scored just ten times. But, as Bruce said after working with the one-time Aston Villa target on Humberside, Akpom’s ‘natural ability’ has never been in question.
“Chuba has a chance, doesn’t he? Wow,” Bruce said at the time. “He still has a lot to do and a lot to learn. But, in terms of raw talent, you don’t have to watch him long to realise the natural ability that he has.
“Only a few are blessed with that.”
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