Ajax inform Akpom via WhatsApp message he is now persona non grata at the club

Ajax have informed seven players, including Nigerian forward Chuba Akpom, that they are not welcome at the club’s training ground this summer, according to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, via Ajax Showtime.

The decision, reportedly communicated via a WhatsApp message from technical director Alex Kroes, marks a bold step in new manager John Heitinga’s squad overhaul, as the Dutch giants aim to fund new signings through player sales.

Akpom, a former Arsenal academy star and England U21 international, is among the high-profile names alongside ex-Premier League winger Carlos Forbs. 

The group, which also includes Borna Sosa, Kristian Hlynsson, Christian Rasmussen, Jay Gorter, and Branco van den Boomen, has been made available for transfer. 

The players have been barred from first-team training facilities and restricted to using the pitch and gym.

Only one physiotherapist has been allocated to the group, underscoring their sidelined status.

Akpom, who joined Ajax from Middlesbrough in 2023, spent the latter half of last season on loan at Lille, where he scored three goals in 14 Ligue 1 appearances. 

Despite having three years left on his contract, the 29-year-old now faces an uncertain future as Ajax prioritize squad restructuring following a heartbreaking Eredivisie title loss to PSV last season. 

The club, set to compete in the Champions League league phase under Heitinga, aims to rebound after surrendering a nine-point lead in the final weeks of the campaign.

As transfer talks loom, Akpom and his teammates must navigate a challenging summer to secure their next career move.

Wale Adejumo

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