Ajax losses hit €8.1m for covid season without fans

October 5 – Ajax Amsterdam has reported an €8.1 million loss for the 2020/21 season, a deficit the Dutch club attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic and a season where most of the matches were played without fans.

For 2019/2020 Ajax booked a net profit of almost €21 million, but revenue dropped by €37.1 million during the pandemic-hit season to €125.2 million.

Football income, including revenue from match-day operations, dropped to €47.9 million while commercial income fell to €27.7 million. Ajax did enjoy a 15% rise in broadcast revenue, to €11.7 million.

Ajax offered its fans a refund for matches they could not attend, with a substantial amount of supporters demanding their money back. The operational deficit of the reigning Dutch champions was €33 million.

In the financial year, Donny van de Beek (Manchester United), Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona), Sven Botman (Lille) and Lassina Traoré (Shakhtar Donetsk) were all sold, bringing in €86 million. Ajax spent on signing Sébastien Haller, Davy Klaassen, Mohammed Kudus and Sean Klaiber, eventually resulting in a player trading surplus of €25.6 million.

During the pandemic, Ajax also received €10.7 million in support from the government to pay the salaries of staff. The club stressed that this money was not used for player wages.

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1711712192labto1711712192ofdlr1711712192owedi1711712192sni@i1711712192tnuk.1711712192ardni1711712192mas1711712192