Ajax’s trio exit: injuries force Jaros, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko out

Ajax announced today that goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, defender Takehiro Tomiyasu and midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko will all leave the club, confirming long‑expected exits after each suffered serious knee injuries that have kept them out of action for months and are unlikely to return before the season ends.

Jaros, 24, was brought to Ajax last summer on the recommendation of former head coach John Heitinga. The Czech goalkeeper arrived on loan from Liverpool and was installed as the first‑choice keeper, appearing in 26 Eredivisie matches before a severe knee injury on training. He has been sidelined since the end of February and his rehabilitation is expected to last several months.

Tomiyasu, 27, signed with Ajax in mid‑December after his contract with Arsenal was terminated in July, making him a free agent. The Japanese defender arrived already recovering from a serious knee injury and continued to struggle with fitness, managing only 236 minutes across nine appearances, of which he started just twice.

Zinchenko joined Ajax during the winter transfer window after lengthy negotiations that involved Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, the latter having loaned him to the Dutch side. The Ukrainian was recruited as a left‑back but was also capable of playing as a defensive midfielder. His debut turned into a nightmare when, after six minutes, he suffered a cruciate ligament tear, marking only his second match for Ajax and ruling him out for months.

Ajax thanked the three players for their service at the Johan Cruijff Arena, acknowledging their contributions despite the injury setbacks. The club released a statement expressing gratitude for their professionalism during recovery.

Jaros’ rehabilitation is projected to take several months, while Zinchenko faces a similar timeline, leaving Ajax to seek replacements for the goalkeeper and defensive positions ahead of the next campaign. The departures underscore the impact of injuries on Ajax’s squad planning for the upcoming season.