Enormous transfer value for Jorthy Mokio drives Ajax interest

Jorthy Mokio, a young midfielder of Ajax who is not a regular starter, is valued by CIES at €52.9 million, making him the second‑most expensive talent under twenty in Europe; technical director Jordi Cruijff would have to sit very high in the tree for any club showing interest, while Mokio signed a new contract of almost five years in April.

Transfer value and European ranking

CIES has estimated Mokio’s current transfer value at €52.9 million, placing him only behind Oskar Pietuszewski of FC Porto (€56.3 million) among talents younger than twenty. The list excludes the values of players from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1, making Mokio the second‑most expensive young player in Europe. It reports that the Swiss CIES‑centre set this valuation. The bureau takes age, contract length, previous transfer fees, performances, minutes played and the club’s transfer behaviour into account in its assessment.

Other Eredivisie talents

Besides Mokio, several Eredivisie players appear on the CIES list. Aaron Bouwman is valued at €30.4 million, Noah Fernandez of PSV at €21 million, and Ruud Nijstad of FC Twente at €13.9 million. Thijs Kraaijeveld (Feyenoord) receives €8 million, Abdellah Ouazane (Ajax) €7.5 million, Lushendry Martes (Sparta Rotterdam) and Mikkel Bro Hansen (PSV) each €7.4 million.

In April of this year Mokio signed a new contract with Ajax, binding him to the Johan Cruyff Arena for almost five more years. He described the negotiation as a turbulent period, but after signing he felt immediately calmer. Mokio said his mind is now clear and he can fully concentrate on playing football.

Mokio indicated that he still has a lot of potential, but that he will only fully realise it when he becomes more aware of his game. He said his first goal against Union Sint‑Gillis came unintentionally, because he has little confidence in his right foot. Mokio promised himself to develop over the next five years and to show what he can do.

Technical director Jordi Cruijff must, according to CIES, sit very high in the tree for any club showing interest in Mokio, indicating that the Amsterdam club has a strong negotiating position. This underscores the strategic role that Cruijff plays in managing Ajax’s talent pool.