Jong Ajax

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Jong Ajax (formerly more commonly known as Ajax 2) has competed in the Beloften Eredivisie since 1992, winning that title a record eight times (1994, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009) and the KNVB Reserve Cup three times (2003, 2004, 2012). By winning the Beloften Eredivisie, Jong Ajax qualified for the KNVB Cup, advancing to the semi-finals three times; its best result was a semi-final loss to FC Utrecht in a penalty shoot-out after extra time in 2001–02 under manager Jan Olde Riekerink. The 2013–14 season marked the Jupiler League debut of Jong Ajax, replacing VV Katwijk, SC Veendam and AGOVV Apeldoorn, and increasing the total number of teams in the league from 16 to 20. Jong Ajax was joined in the Eerste Divisie by Jong FC Twente and Jong PSV, reserve teams that also moved from the Beloften Eredivisie.

In Their Own Story

The 2013–14 season marked a turning point as Jong Ajax made its debut in the Jupiler League (now Eerste Divisie). Unlike their previous era where players moved freely between squads, regulations now require a separate registered squad for the second team. Players can only transfer between Jong Ajax and the first team during official transfer windows, unless they have made fewer than 15 appearances for the senior side, in which case dual eligibility remains. This structural shift replaced three amateur clubs—VV Katwijk, SC Veendam, and AGOVV Apeldoorn—and expanded the league to 20 teams alongside fellow reserves Jong FC Twente and Jong PSV. Despite this professional integration, national regulations strictly prohibit promotion to the Eredivisie or entry into the main KNVB Cup, cementing their role solely as a development platform.

Reader's Guide

Jong Ajax registers and fields a separate squad from that of Ajax first team for the Eerste Divisie. Players can move between squads only during transfer windows, unless a player has made fewer than 15 appearances for the first team, in which case he is still eligible to appear in both first team and second team matches during the season. The team is not eligible for promotion to the Eredivisie or to participate in the KNVB Cup. Home matches are played at Sportpark De Toekomst, except for the occasional match in the Amsterdam Arena.

Did You Know?

• Jong Ajax is the only reserve side to have won a Dutch professional league title, claiming the 2017–18 Eerste Divisie.
• Jong Ajax has won the Beloften Eredivisie title a record eight times.
• The team's best KNVB Cup result was a semi-final loss to FC Utrecht in 2001–02.
• Jong Ajax left the Beloften Eredivisie in 2013 after a 21-year tenure.