Five possible replacements for Mika Godts: who should Ajax sign?

To compare the players properly, we focus on top speed and dribble success rate. The table below shows how scouts and analysts generally read those numbers in football.

In 2025/26, Mika Godts hit a top speed of 33.0 km/h and posted a dribble success rate of 46.7% in the Eredivisie. That places him in the strong category in both areas.

With successful dribbles, volume matters just as much as the percentage itself. For example, 80% over five attempts tells you less than 48% over 100 attempts. Top speed does not tell the full story either. Explosiveness, the first few metres and how a player uses that speed matter just as much.

As for the five players, the top speeds are estimates and the successful dribble percentages come from the most relevant available season. The figures are mainly there to compare the players with each other and with Godts. Watching footage remains essential.

Estimated top speed: 32–33 km/h | Successful dribbles: 49.7%

If Ajax have to pick one player from this list who can immediately fill Godts' place, I end up with Yann Gboho. He is not the fastest player on this list, but he pairs a sharp first burst with excellent ball control and smart use of his physique. Once he gets past his man, he is hard to stop. His one-on-one ability is one of his biggest weapons: he can go on the outside or cut inside, and he knows how to create space for himself with his dribbles.

On top of that, his output improved over the past season. In Ligue 1, he recorded 8 goals and 3 assists in 2025/26. As a result, his market value has risen sharply, but with a contract until 30 June 2027, he can presumably be signed for €15 million to €20 million. That makes him an interesting short-term option for Ajax.

Estimated top speed: 33–34 km/h | Successful dribbles: 40.2%

Andrés Gómez stands out most for the sheer number of one-on-one duels he takes on. The Colombian constantly looks to beat his direct opponent, mixing sharp dribbling with quick changes of direction. That creates space for him to attack and lets him use his pace to drive towards goal. A dribble success rate of 40.2% is solid, especially given the volume of actions he attempts.

There is still room for improvement in his output. In 2026, Gómez has 4 goals and 1 assist for Vasco in the Série A. His contract runs until January 2031, which puts Vasco da Gama in a strong negotiating position. With that long-term deal in place, Gómez is likely to command a transfer fee of around €12 million to €15 million.

Estimated top speed: 33–34 km/h | Successful dribbles: 39.6%

Of the three, Matheus Martins is the more technical, agile winger. While Gboho is almost impossible to dispossess and Gómez stands out for his high dribble volume, Martins excels most in combining in tight spaces. He likes to cut inside from the left, looks for combinations and, thanks to his technique, can also protect the ball under pressure. That makes him an interesting option against compact defences.

Ajax were reportedly interested in his team-mate Álvaro Montoro in recent weeks, but he proved financially out of reach. Earlier this month, Botafogo reached an agreement with Dinamo Moscow over €8 million for Martins, but the transfer was delayed by a disagreement over his salary. Presumably, Martins can still be signed for a similar amount.

Estimated top speed: 34–35 km/h | Successful dribbles: 52.8%

With immediate reinforcements hard to find late in the window, Ajax may also have to turn to top young talent, and Leonel Flores stands out as the clear number one. The Boca Juniors gem is now often used on the right because of the many right-footed attackers at his club, but he can also operate excellently from the left. Along with his speed, he stands out for his crisp passing and his ability to keep an overview under pressure. His biggest weapon, though, is his acceleration from a standing start, which helps him break open compact defences.

One big question remains: his experience at senior level. The move to Europe will undoubtedly take time. In just 700 minutes, he has already produced 2 goals and 1 assist, a fine return for a 19-year-old. Manchester City are also monitoring his development. Flores reportedly has a €13 million release clause. That is a significant investment for Ajax, but you cannot expect him to replace Godts as early as next week. He is, however, a player who could in time be worth many times that amount.

Estimated top speed: ±34–35 km/h | Successful dribbles: 52.6%

Seung-soo Park is the quickest player on the list and is sometimes jokingly called the Korean Mbappé. He is a pure one-v-one specialist who stands out for his unpredictability and use of body feints. Add that to his pace and he can wrong-foot a defender before immediately attacking the space behind the defence. Park Seung-soo may well be the player who best matches the profile Ajax are looking for.

Even so, Park is the biggest wildcard on this list. After one season in Premier League 2 and with limited experience at the highest level, it is difficult to judge how quickly he will keep developing. He is making a good impression at Newcastle and the club clearly see potential in him, but a move to Ajax may still come too soon. A loan deal with an option to buy could therefore be interesting. Park could gain valuable experience at Eredivisie level with Ajax and potentially also get minutes for Jong Ajax.

Estimated top speed: 33–34 km/h | Successful dribbles: 54.5%

Marques couples speed with technique and strong dribbling. He's been picking up more and more minutes at São Paulo, which already puts him a step ahead of his team-mate Tetê. His high dribble success rate underlines that. Ajax have previously been linked with the Brazilian, which certainly makes him one to watch.

Estimated top speed: 33–34 km/h | Successful dribbles: 36.1%

Sternberg has also previously been linked with Ajax. The Belgian mixes speed and explosiveness with the nerve to take on his full-back. His dribble success rate of 36.1% is on the low side, but that partly reflects the volume of one-on-one duels he attempts. He still needs to learn when to pick his moments better. He mainly plays on the left, but can also operate on the right. Genk are reportedly asking for around €10 million.

Estimated top speed: 32–33 km/h | Successful dribbles: 45.5%

Above all, Diaoune stands out for his acceleration, direct running and movement. He uses his pace both with and without the ball, and has enough dribbling ability to make things happen on his own. His coaches also highlight his work rate and improvement in front of goal. Despite his limited minutes, he has already produced 2 goals and 1 assist in just 350 minutes.

Estimated top speed: 33–34 km/h | Successful dribbles: 66.7%

The son of former Brazil international Robinho stands out above all for his technique, dribbling and ability to beat a man. He currently plays on the right but is fully two-footed, which means he could also operate as a left winger in future. At Santos he has also had the chance to learn from Neymar, although the two have clashed from time to time.