Ajax have been looking to re-establish themselves among the leading clubs in Dutch football following a disappointing 2025/26 campaign.
The Amsterdam giants finished fifth in the Eredivisie last season, a considerable distance from the standards expected of a club that has historically dominated the competition.
Their struggles also extended into Europe, where they failed to progress beyond the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, leaving the club facing another summer of rebuilding.
There have been signs of improvement this season, with Ajax currently sitting fourth in the Eredivisie after collecting 18 points from their opening nine matches.
Míchel Sanchez’s side also enjoyed an impressive 5-2 victory away to Groningen on Sunday, providing a welcome boost after dropping points against NEC and Excelsior in their previous two league fixtures.
Alongside their efforts to improve results, Ajax have made several changes to their playing squad, including the departure of a former Arsenal defender whose time in Amsterdam ended prematurely.
The player left the club when his short-term contract expired at the end of June, but Ajax have now issued an official statement confirming an unexpected development concerning his future.
Ajax confirmed that Oleksandr Zinchenko has returned to the club to continue his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury, despite no longer being contracted to the Dutch club.
The Ukrainian international joined Ajax from Arsenal in February 2026, signing a six-month contract after spending the first half of the campaign on loan at Nottingham Forest.
However, his move proved extremely unfortunate.
Zinchenko made just two appearances before suffering a serious knee injury during Ajax’s match against Fortuna Sittard, requiring surgery and ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
With his contract expiring on June 30, the former Manchester City and Arsenal defender subsequently became a free agent.
In the statement, Ajax confirmed that Oleksandr Zinchenko has been given permission to complete the final stages of his recovery at the club’s De Toekomst training complex.
The club explained that the 29-year-old remains without a team and is continuing his rehabilitation in Amsterdam following the injury he sustained earlier this year.
Zinchenko also expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to return.
“I would like to say a massive thank you to Jordi Cruijff, coach Míchel Sánchez and everyone at Ajax for giving me the opportunity to complete my rehabilitation and get back on track,” Zinchenko said.
“I’m truly grateful to everyone at the club for the warm welcome and incredible support throughout this journey. It means a lot to me.”
The arrangement does not mean Oleksandr Zinchenko has re-signed for Ajax, with no new playing contract currently announced.
For now, Zinchenko’s priority will be returning to full fitness after an injury that brought his brief spell at Ajax to an abrupt end.
Whether that eventually leads to another playing contract in Amsterdam remains to be seen, but the club has made it clear that the former Arsenal defender is welcome to continue his recovery with them.
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