Rayane Bounida’s cryptic Instagram update fuels comeback speculation

In a stark black‑and‑white Instagram post, 20‑year‑old Ajax forward Rayane Bounida replaced his profile picture with an image of himself in the Ajax shirt during a Champions League match, captioned ‘Comeback soon’, a cryptic signal posted today at 19:32 on the club’s official feed.

Despite the buzz, Bounida has not featured in any pre‑season matches under new coach Míchel. The Dutch club has kept him on the sidelines as preparations for the new season continue.

In the 2025/2026 campaign, the Ajax player logged 28 first‑team appearances. He contributed two goals and nine assists during that season.

At the end of May 2026, Bounida earned his first cap for the Moroccan national team. After that debut, his public activity fell silent for an extended period.

The new Instagram profile picture is rendered in black and white rather than colour. It shows him in an Ajax shirt from a previous Champions League match, overlaid with the words ‘Comeback soon’, meaning ‘Kom snel terug’ in Dutch.

In late June, Bounida uploaded another Instagram post showing himself training in the shirt of Sean Steur, who has since left the club. The clip was shared on his Instagram page, confirming his return to training.

Following a friendly against Burnley, Ajax coach Míchel confirmed that Bounida had returned from holiday but was battling an injury. The 20‑year‑old is working hard on his rehabilitation.

The cryptic visual and the brief training glimpse have sparked speculation about his imminent comeback. Fans and pundits alike are watching his Instagram activity for further clues.