Ajax confirmed the departures of defenders Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, following the expiration of their short-term contracts.
The Eredivisie club also parted ways with goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros as part of a squad overhaul after a challenging campaign.
Tomiyasu's Future in Question
Tomiyasu, 27, joined Ajax on a free transfer in December after his contract with Arsenal was dissolved. He gradually established his value after building up his fitness.
Italian clubs Sassuolo and newly promoted Venezia have already initiated contact to bring the defender back to Serie A, according to transfer journalist Nicolò Schira.
Several English clubs are also monitoring his situation.
Tomiyasu expressed a strong desire to return to England during a press conference in Houston, Texas, following Japan's World Cup elimination by Brazil.
He stated that the Premier League is the highest level and that he wants to place himself in a tough environment.
The defender was highly self-critical about his current physical state, specifically pointing out his inability to stop Gabriel Martinelli's winning goal for Brazil during the tournament.
He felt that in top form he could have handled the situation.
Tomiyasu further elaborated on the long-term impact of his physical struggles, linking his recent international performance directly to his consecutive years of injury difficulties.
He concluded that the consequences of the past two years caught up with him in the most important match.
Zinchenko's Brief and Injury-Plagued Stay
Ukrainian left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko also left Amsterdam under unfortunate circumstances after Ajax decided against extending his short-term deal.
His stint was heavily disrupted by a severe knee injury.
Ajax had purchased Zinchenko from Arsenal for a reported 1.5 million euros in early 2026, navigating complex negotiations with his previous loan club Nottingham Forest.
He made his debut against AZ Alkmaar on February 8 but suffered a season-ending knee injury during his first start against Fortuna Sittard on February 14 following a challenge by Dimitrios Limnios.
Zinchenko used his official Instagram account to issue a formal farewell to the Dutch club and its supporters.
He thanked everyone at Ajax for the warm welcome and support during his short two-week period at the club.
Shortly after sustaining the injury in February, Zinchenko had expressed his emotional distress and accountability to the club management via social media.
He noted his regret regarding the unpredictable nature of professional sports injuries while vowing to recover alongside his family support system.
Zinchenko remains focused on his ongoing rehabilitation process to recover fully from the knee damage.
He announced that he will accept the challenge and come back stronger than ever.
