Yves Bissouma's Move to Ajax: Risky Transition

Yves Bissouma is close to sealing his move to Ajax, and the news has now ricocheted across the Channel. In England, the reaction has been sharp – and far from sentimental.

The Mali international spent the last four years on the books at Tottenham Hotspur, a spell that showcased his ability but never quite escaped the shadow of his off-field issues. British outlets have been clear: the talent is not in question, the baggage is.

“That his contract was not extended at Spurs did not come as a surprise,” he wrote, pointing to more than just the knee injury that marred Bissouma’s final season. Persistent problems away from the pitch, he noted, played a major role. After several late arrivals, then-manager Thomas Frank eventually dropped him from the squad for what was described as a “lack of discipline”.

The discipline concerns did not end there. talkSPORT highlighted the incident that drew widespread criticism: a video Bissouma himself posted on social media, showing him using nitrous oxide. That clip led directly to his suspension. Even after that punishment, he was reportedly filmed a second time with a nitrous oxide balloon.

The Mirror added a darker layer to the story. Bissouma later explained that a burglary at his home had a profound impact on his mental health. He spoke of anxiety, panic, depression and paranoia in the aftermath, saying that period of trauma led him towards nitrous oxide.

Those explanations have not erased the doubts. In England, the consensus is that Ajax are taking on a calculated risk. The Sun issued a blunt warning: “Ajax will have to keep a closer eye on Bissouma than their predecessors did, in order to prevent a repeat of that situation.”

Scepticism is not confined to the British press. On Monday evening, Dutch pundit Valentijn Driessen echoed those concerns on Vandaag Inside, and did so in scathing terms. He described Bissouma as “some Malian who is more into nitrous oxide than he is present at training,” stressing the recreational use and the fact that it involves a professional footballer. Driessen then drew a pointed comparison with Noa Lang, saying Jordi Cruyff had rejected Lang over fears he would be a difficult character, only for Ajax now to move for Bissouma: “If you bring this one in… then you really are bringing in trouble.”

For Ajax, the equation is clear. They are bringing in a midfielder whose ceiling remains high, but whose recent past comes with red flags that England’s media and Dutch commentators are not willing to ignore.

Bissouma is reportedly already in Amsterdam for his medical. If all goes as planned, he will sign a deal running until mid-2027, with an option for a further year – a long commitment to a player many insist must be watched very closely.