The midfielder who survived a stadium projectile to win a Scudetto
In short: From the Ajax academy to the heights of Serie A, Davy Klaassen’s career has been defined by resilience. Whether navigating a difficult Premier League stint or recovering from a head injury caused by a thrown object, the Dutch midfielder has proven his ability to adapt and lead across Europe's top leagues.
Born on 21 February 1993, Klaassen's journey through elite football began in the Ajax Youth Academy. He quickly rose through the ranks, helping the Ajax A1 squad win the Nike Eredivisie title in 2011–12. His professional debut was a whirlwind; he entered the pitch for the Ajax first team in the Champions League against Olympique Lyonnais on 22 November 2011, and just five days later, he scored a goal in the Eredivisie against NEC only 42 seconds after being subbed on.
His career has seen significant peaks and valleys. After becoming Ajax captain in the 2015–16 season, he moved to Everton in the Premier League for £23.6 million on 15 June 2017. However, he struggled to adapt to the English style of play, failing to make a Premier League appearance between late September 2017 and early March 2018. He eventually found his footing in Germany with Werder Bremen, where he served as vice-captain during the 2019–20 season before returning to Ajax in October 2020.
Klaassen's resilience was tested on 5 April 2023, when he suffered a head injury from an object thrown from the stands during a Dutch cup semifinal against Feyenoord. Despite the dizziness caused by the incident, he continued to play at a high level. This perseverance extended to his move to Inter Milan in September 2023, where he contributed to the club's 2023–24 Serie A title—the club's 20th league championship. His career has come full circle, returning to Ajax in September 2024 and continuing to break milestones, including his 100th official goal for the club in February 2025.
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