Ajax secures Femke Liefting on loan from Chelsea
Ajax have turned to a familiar face to strengthen their goalkeeping department, securing Femke Liefting on loan from Chelsea for the 2026/27 campaign.
The Dutch club confirmed the deal on their official channels on Friday morning, a move that sends the 21-year-old back to the Azerion Vrouwen Eredivisie after an interrupted spell in England.
A return to where it all started clicking
Liefting’s route back to Amsterdam has not been a straight line. She broke through at VV Alkmaar, earning a reputation as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in the Netherlands, before switching to neighbours AZ in 2023. Her sharp reflexes and command of the box quickly pushed her into the spotlight.
Chelsea moved decisively. The Barclays Women’s Super League champions signed her in January 2025, betting on long-term potential rather than immediate returns. It was a bold step for a young Dutch keeper, and it came with the weight of expectation.
Then came the setbacks.
Foot and hip injuries stalled her progress in England, disrupting rhythm and limiting opportunities in a squad packed with international talent. A loan spell at Newcastle United last season offered a first taste of regular senior minutes in the English game, but it was never going to be enough to satisfy a player who needs a full campaign to truly grow.
Game time, not promise, now the priority
That is what this move to Ajax is about: matches, not maybes.
A Dutch youth international, Liefting needs the weekly demands of top-flight football to sharpen the instincts that first caught Chelsea’s eye. At 21, she is still early in her career, but this season shapes up as a crucial one in determining whether she becomes a genuine contender for club and country.
Ajax’s technical manager, Dolf Roks, left no doubt about how highly the club rate her. “Femke is a talented goalkeeper who has already proven her quality in the Vrouwen Eredivisie. She also gained valuable experience at the highest level during her time at Chelsea, where she continued to develop. We are delighted that she will add experience and quality to our squad for the coming season,” he said.
For Ajax, it is a smart, low-risk addition: a keeper who knows the league, arrives with big-club habits, and is hungry to re-establish herself. For Liefting, it is a chance to reset on home soil, in a team that expects to compete at the top end of the table.
Chelsea, meanwhile, keep a long-term asset on their books. Liefting remains under contract at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2028.
If this season in Amsterdam gives her the platform she has been searching for, the battle for Chelsea’s No.1 shirt in the years ahead may look very different.
