Ajax's best academy graduates of all time: From Cruyff to Bergkamp, Kluivert to De Ligt

Arguably the most influential figure in football history, John Cruyff made his professional debut for Ajax in 1964.

The naturally gifted winger with an unrivalled understanding of the game played for the Dutch club for 11 years in total, over two stints (1964-1973 and 1981-1983), winning eight Eredivisie titles and three European Cups.

The iconic winger is the club’s all-time highest goalscorer, scoring 194 times in 287 matches.

Cruyff also played for Barcelona, Feyenoord, Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats and Levante. His subsequent work as a coach at Camp Nou had a major impact on a number of future coaches, including Pep Guardiola.

The full-back, who could also play as a sweeper or defensive midfielder, made his professional debut for Ajax in 1968 and spent 12 seasons at the club.

During his time in Amsterdam, Krol won six Eredivisie titles, three European Cups, four KNVB Cups and two UEFA Super Cups.

Krol also lined out for Vancouver Whitecaps, Napoli and Cannes before retiring in 1986.

A one-club man, Piet Keizer began his professional career with Ajax in 1961 after coming through their academy and played in Amsterdam until his retirement in 1974.

In the 13 years of his professional career, the winger won 19 trophies, including six Eredivisie titles, five KNVB Cups and three European Cups.

Marco van Basten graduated from Ajax’s academy in 1981 after joining the club at the age of 16 and spent six seasons at the club before leaving for AC Milan, where he became a legend.

One of the most complete centre-forwards the game has ever seen, Van Basten's career was cruelly cut short by injury, playing his final game at just 28.

However, by that stage, he had already won a European Championship with Netherlands, as well as three Eredivisie titles, four Serie A titles and three European Cups at club level

The three-time Ballon d'Or winner also remains Ajax’s third-highest scorer of all time, with 152 goals in 172 matches.

One of Netherlands' Euro 88 heroes, Frank Rijkaard made his professional debut for Ajax in 1980.

After leaving in 1987, he spent a season on loan at Real Zaragoza before moving to AC Milan, where he formed a formidable Dutch trio with Ruud Gullit and Van Basten.

The versatile defender, who was transformed into a midfielder by Arrigo Sacchi, won multiple league titles in Netherlands and Italy, while he also lifted the European Cup three times: twice with Milan and then with Ajax, after rejoining the club at the tail end of his career.

The forward made his senior debut for Ajax in 1986 and spent seven years in Amsterdam, winning one Eredivisie title and the European Cup Winners' Cup, before leaving as part of a massive transfer that also saw Wim Jonk join Inter.

Bergkamp struggled at San Siro, though, and was allowed to leave for Arsenal in 1995.

It was in north London that he established himself as one of the finest No.10s of his generation, scoring 120 goals for the Gunners, as well as forming formidable strike partnerships, first with Ian Wright, and then Thierry Henry.

The former Dutch international began his professional career at Ajax In 1988 and played at the club for 11 seasons.

After leaving the Dutch giants, De Boer represented the likes of Barcelona, Galatasaray, Rangers, Al-Rayyan and Al-Shamal. 

Though he did win La Liga once at Camp Nou, he shone brightest at Ajax, with the ball-playing centre-back racking up five Eredivisie titles and one Champions League, while he won La Liga once at Camp Nou.

Arguably the greatest Dutch goalkeeper of all time, Van der Sar played for Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United during a 21-year professional career.

As well as helping the Amsterdam outfit clinch Champions League glory in 1995, he also won the Eredivisie and the Premier League four times apiece.

Van der Sar remained the-most capped Dutch player of all time with 130 international matches under his belt until 2017, when Wesley Sneijder broke his record.

The only man to have won the Champions League with three different clubs, Seedorf was just 16 years and 242 days old when he made his Ajax debut – making him the youngest player in the club's history.

The classy but robust midfielder spent three years in the senior squad, culminating in Ajax's monumental Champions League triumph in 1995.

He would go on to win it again with both Real Madrid and AC Milan (twice), while he also represented Netherlands 87 times.

The aggressive defensive midfielder made his debut for Ajax in 1991 and spent five years at the club.

He later played for AC Milan, Juventus, Inter and Tottenham before returning to Amsterdam in 2007.

Davids eventually retired in 2014 after turning out for Crystal Palace and Barnet.

He won multiple trophies in Netherlands and Italy, including three Scudetti in Serie A, three Eredivisie titles and a Champions League, with Ajax in 1995.

Having long been considered a future star in Amsterdam, the great Dutch forward announced himself to the wider footballing world by scoring the winner in Ajax's Champions League victory over AC Milan in 1995 at just 18 years of age.

He ended up joining the Rossoneri in 1997, having won two Eredivisie titles and scored 52 times in 100 appearances in all competitions for Ajax.

Kluivert lasted just one season at San Siro but enjoyed a far more successful six-year stay at Barcelona, whom he helped win La Liga twice.

The striker also excelled at international level, winning the Golden Boot at Euro 2000 and ending his Netherlands record with 40 goals – a record at the time of his retirement.

A precocious talent at under-age level, Sneijder spent five seasons at Ajax before finally being snapped up by one of Europe's elite.

His two years at Real Madrid didn't quite go according to plan but, at Inter, the gifted attacking midfielder belatedly realised his full potential, becoming a superstar.

Sneijder inspired Inter to a historic treble triumph in 2009-10 before then helping Netherlands reach the final of the World Cup in South Africa.
He didn't manage to sustain his outstanding form for much longer but Sneijder remains his nation's most capped player and a legend at Ajax.

Much like Sneijder, Van der Vaart earned a reputation as one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in world football during his time in Amsterdam. Indeed, he was the first-ever recipient of the Golden Boy award, in 2003.

Van der Vaart spent five full seasons at Ajax, winning two Eredivisie titles, and a double in 2002, before joining Hamburg.

His performances in Germany earned him a move to Real Madrid but, again, just like Sneijder, he didn't last long in the Spanish capital and ended up returning to Hamburg before later spending some time at Betis and Tottenham.

Perhaps best remembered by some football fans for nearly breaking Xabi Alonso in two during the 2010 World Cup final, De Jong was an abrasive but talented central midfielder who made his breakthrough at Ajax eight years previously.

He was a key member of the 2003-04 title-winning side while he was also named the club's player of the year the following season.

De Jong also played his part in Manchester City's historic - and hugely dramatic - Premier League triumph in 2012.

One of the best playmakers of his generation began playing in his native Denmark but he learned his trade in Netherlands after being picked up by Ajax at just 16.

After a couple of years playing under-age football, Eriksen broke into the senior side and ended up playing five seasons for Ajax, winning three consecutive Dutch titles between 2011 and 2013.

Eriksen, of course, went on to become a Premier League star at Tottenham before then winning a Scudetto with Inter.

He was forced to leave San Siro after suffering a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 but, having made a full recovery, he is now shining in England once again, having joined Brentford in January 2022.

De Ligt joined Ajax at just nine years of age and broke into the senior squad at 17, touted as one of the most promising players to come out of the academy in a long, long time.

The centre-half lived up to the hype, becoming the first defender to win the Golden Boy award in December 2018, before then being named Ajax's youngest-ever captain a few months later.

De Ligt led his side on a remarkable run to the semi-finals of the 2018-19 Champions League before joining Juventus, where he has since cemented his status as one of the most valuable players in the game today.