Christian Eriksen was at Ajax from 2008 to 2013: he arrived in Amsterdam from OB as a 16-year-old, made his first-team debut in January 2010 and won three Eredivisie titles in a row. In those years he went from promising youth player to Denmark international and one of Europe’s most sought-after young midfielders. This is the whole story – from the 2008 trials to the move to Tottenham.
Trials at Europe’s big clubs – and why he chose Ajax
In 2008 Eriksen was one of the brightest talents in Danish youth football, playing for OB’s academy and Denmark’s U17 side. According to UEFA and Wikipedia, among others, he had trials at Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Milan before making up his mind. He picked Ajax, a club known for giving young players early first-team chances, and told UEFA that his first step should not be too big.
The Christian Eriksen Ajax contract and the fee
Ajax and OB agreed the deal on 17 October 2008 and Eriksen signed a two-and-a-half-year contract. The fee was never officially published: Wikipedia puts it at about €1m to OB, Transfermarkt at €1.5m. According to Wikipedia his boyhood club Middelfart G&BK received around €35,000 and used it to build a new pitch. He first played for Ajax’s A1 youth side and Jong Ajax before joining the first-team squad in the winter of 2009–10. His years before Amsterdam are covered on Christian Eriksen and OB.
Debut on 17 January 2010 and first goal
Eriksen made his Eredivisie debut on 17 January 2010 in a 1-1 draw at NAC Breda, wearing the number 51 that spring. His first goal came on 25 March 2010 in the cup, a 6-0 win over Go Ahead Eagles, and that season Ajax won the KNVB Cup – his first senior trophy.
His international career took off at the same time. On 3 March 2010 he made his Denmark debut against Austria, aged 18 years and 17 days, and that summer he was the youngest player at the World Cup in South Africa. From 2010–11 he wore the number 8 at Ajax. More on Christian Eriksen and Denmark.
Martin Jol, Frank de Boer and three titles in a row
Martin Jol was in charge when Eriksen broke through and, according to Wikipedia, compared him to Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Michael Laudrup in the classic number 10 role. Frank de Boer took over in December 2010 and under him Eriksen became one of the side’s key players. Ajax won the Eredivisie in 2010–11, 2011–12 and 2012–13, plus the Johan Cruyff Shield in 2013. On 18 October 2011 he scored his first Champions League goal in a 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb, and in 2012–13 he scored 13 goals in all competitions.
| Season | Eredivisie (apps/goals) | All competitions (apps/goals) |
|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 15/0 | 21/1 |
| 2010–11 | 28/6 | 47/8 |
| 2011–12 | 33/7 | 44/8 |
| 2012–13 | 33/10 | 45/13 |
| 2013–14 | 4/2 | 5/2 |
| Total | 113/25 | 162/32 |
Source: Wikipedia club statistics. Eredivisie assists are left out because the available databases are incomplete for those years.
Awards and a rising market value
His Ajax years brought individual awards too: the club’s Talent of the Future award (Sjaak Swart Award) in 2010, Ajax Talent of the Year (Marco van Basten Award) in 2011, the Johan Cruyff Trophy as Dutch Football Talent of the Year in 2011 and third place (the Bronze Boot) in the Dutch Footballer of the Year vote in 2012. At home the Danish FA (DBU) named him Danish Player of the Year for 2011, the first of his four DBU awards.
In June 2011 he scored his first Denmark goal in a 2-0 win in Iceland, becoming the youngest Dane to score in European Championship qualifying. Transfermarkt valued him at €200,000 at his debut in January 2010, €13m in January 2012 and €18m in May 2013. More about his background in the Christian Eriksen biography.
Leaving Ajax for Tottenham in 2013
He started the 2013–14 season with Ajax, scoring twice in four Eredivisie games, before joining Tottenham Hotspur on 30 August 2013 for a reported £11m (about €12.45m); Transfermarkt lists €14.15m. He was 21 and left as a Denmark regular and a three-time Dutch champion, after 162 games and 32 goals for Ajax. The next chapter: Christian Eriksen at Tottenham; the full list of clubs is on the Christian Eriksen career page.
Christian Eriksen at Ajax: FAQ
When did Christian Eriksen join Ajax?
Ajax and OB agreed the transfer on 17 October 2008, when Eriksen was 16. He started in the youth teams and made his first-team debut on 17 January 2010 against NAC Breda.
How many titles did Christian Eriksen win at Ajax?
Three Eredivisie titles (2010–11, 2011–12 and 2012–13), the KNVB Cup in 2010 and the Johan Cruyff Shield in 2013.
What shirt number did Christian Eriksen wear at Ajax?
Number 51 in the spring of 2010, then number 8 from the 2010–11 season until he left for Tottenham in 2013.
How many goals did Christian Eriksen score for Ajax?
32 goals in 162 games in all competitions, including 25 goals in 113 Eredivisie games.
Which clubs did Christian Eriksen have trials with before Ajax?
According to UEFA and Wikipedia, among others, he had trials at Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Milan before choosing Ajax in 2008.
Why did Christian Eriksen leave Ajax?
After three straight league titles he moved to the Premier League, joining Tottenham Hotspur on 30 August 2013 for a reported £11m; Transfermarkt lists €14.15m.