Ajax Set to Finalize Ahmetcan Kaplan Transfer to NEC Nijmegen

Ajax are set to cut ties with Ahmetcan Kaplan, with NEC Nijmegen moving to make last season’s loan a permanent stay for around €2.5 million, according to Algemeen Dagblad club watcher Johan Inan.

The 21-year-old defender will sign a four-year contract in Nijmegen, tying him to NEC until mid-2030. It is a strong statement from a club that watched him closely over the past campaign and decided he was worth building around.

Kaplan did more than just fill a gap during his loan spell. He impressed across 30 official matches, anchoring the back line and even chipping in with two goals. For a player still early in his career, his composure and left-footed balance stood out in an NEC side that punched above its weight.

For Ajax, the move draws a line under a short and ultimately costly chapter. The Amsterdam club brought Kaplan in from Trabzonspor in the summer of 2022 for €9.5 million, a sizeable outlay for a young defender. His time in the capital never fully ignited: he will leave with 25 official appearances to his name and the sense of untapped potential now being handed to a domestic rival.

NEC, though, see opportunity where Ajax see an exit. With Philippe Sandler sidelined for a long spell, the club badly needed a defensive reinforcement with Eredivisie experience. Kaplan fits that bill and arrives already integrated into the dressing room and the system.

He will not be alone, either. The Turk will line up alongside compatriot Emre Mor, adding a familiar face in what promises to be a pivotal season for NEC.

Because this move is not just about shoring up the back line. NEC are still chasing a place in the Champions League group stage, with FK Bodø/Glimt standing between them and a historic breakthrough over two legs. In that context, securing Kaplan permanently is more than a routine transfer; it is a bet that the defender who grew in Nijmegen last season can now help carry the club onto an entirely different stage.