Ajax fans sing about the Netherlands during strong display by rejuvenated Ajax player

Owen Wijndal appears to be enjoying a revival at Ajax. Once on the verge of leaving Amsterdam, the left-back now has a starting place under Míchel Sánchez. There is even talk of a return to the Netherlands national team.

In 2022, Ajax paid ten million euros for Wijndal, who played regularly in his first year in Amsterdam. His playing time then dwindled before he spent a spell on loan at Royal Antwerp FC.

Jorrel Hato was ahead of Wijndal at left-back when he returned to Ajax. After Hato left for Chelsea, Wijndal came back into contention, but the arrivals of Caio Henrique and Jofre Torrents appeared to leave him without a role. He looked set to leave last summer, but no transfer materialised.

A few months later, Wijndal is a fixture in Ajax's defence. He recently impressed away at FC Groningen and contributed a goal and an assist against FC Midtjylland (1-6).

Marciano Vink praised Wijndal on Voetbalpraat . "He had more or less been put out with the rubbish and was allowed to leave. He trained with Jong Ajax to keep himself somewhat fit. But then you see what can happen if you keep believing."

During Thursday's emphatic Conference League win, the travelling Ajax fans even chanted "Wijndal for the Netherlands". "That's how strange football is," Vink concluded. Wijndal last played for the Netherlands in 2021.

"What he brings now is a great deal of energy. That hasn't been the case for a long time. There was a question of whether Youri Baas might have to play there. Caio Henrique has arrived, but that hasn't quite worked out either," the pundit said.

With his Ajax contract in its final year, Wijndal has yet to hear about a possible new deal. The left-back says he is open to staying in Amsterdam longer.