Wout Weghorst's Future: Ajax Exit and Potential Moves to Twente or Benfica
Wout Weghorst is edging towards the exit at Ajax. The only real question now is where the next chapter of his career will be written.
The 33-year-old striker is in the final months of his contract in Amsterdam and, barring a major twist, there will be no renewal. Inside and outside the club, the expectation is the same: this partnership is winding down.
Ajax turning the page
For much of the season, Weghorst lived in the shadow of Kasper Dolberg, reduced to a supporting role while Ajax lurched through another turbulent campaign. That changed under new manager Óscar García. The veteran forward fought his way into the starting XI, his physical presence and relentlessness suddenly central to the way Ajax attacked.
Last weekend, he underlined that resurgence in the most ironic way possible: scoring against FC Twente, the club now circling for his signature. His goal, though, did not save Ajax from another painful afternoon in Amsterdam. Twente walked away with a 2-1 win, leaving the hosts to pick through the familiar wreckage of a home defeat.
The tension boiled over early in the second half. García called Weghorst to the touchline and replaced him with Don-Angelo Konadu. The reaction was immediate and raw. Weghorst trudged off, visibly furious, and when he reached the technical area he pointedly refused his manager’s offered hand. After the final whistle, he also declined an interview request from Cristian Willaert, shutting down any chance of a public explanation.
For a player whose future is already under the microscope, the images spoke loudly enough.
Twente calling – but not alone
Inside the Eredivisie, FC Twente have emerged as the most concrete option. Ajax watcher Mike Verweij of De Telegraaf recently stated on the Kick-Off podcast that there is “a strong chance” Weghorst continues his career in Enschede.
“I think Weghorst could be on his way to FC Twente, if FC Twente want him. Ten Hag will be keen on him; he knows him well. There’s a good chance Weghorst will go to Twente,” Verweij said, underlining how neatly the move would fit all sides.
For Twente, it would mean adding an experienced, battle-hardened striker to a squad that has steadily climbed the Dutch hierarchy. For Weghorst, it offers a return to familiar surroundings and a leading role rather than the rotating carousel he has endured in Amsterdam.
But the story does not end at the Dutch border.
Mourinho and the Benfica temptation
According to Parool journalist Jop van Kempen, Weghorst is weighing up more than just a domestic switch. He reports that several foreign clubs are monitoring the striker, with Benfica among the sides mentioned.
“José Mourinho is currently the manager there. Wout and José – that strikes me as a brilliant combination,” Van Kempen wrote.
On paper, the fit is intriguing. Mourinho has long valued forwards who work, press, and fight for every ball. Weghorst, with his intensity and aerial strength, ticks those boxes. At Benfica, Vangelis Pavlidis currently leads the line, but after another prolific season the former AZ top scorer looks a strong candidate for a summer move.
Should Pavlidis depart, a vacancy opens at the heart of Mourinho’s attack. Franjo Ivanovic, the young Croatian, offers talent and potential, yet Benfica’s ambitions demand depth and experience. A player like Weghorst would bring both, along with a personality built for big nights and hostile atmospheres.
A crossroads with sharp edges
So Weghorst stands at a career crossroads: Twente’s pull, Benfica’s allure, and the fading reality of Ajax all converging in the space of a few weeks.
What is clear is that his time in Amsterdam is running out. The contract is expiring, the relationship with the bench looks strained, and the club itself is shifting towards a different future.
The next decision will define the final prime years of his career. Does he anchor a domestic contender in Twente, or throw himself into one last major foreign adventure under Mourinho’s demanding glare in Lisbon?
