Ajax: Bijlow Exit – Crisis Deepens?

Ajax and Feyenoord often bother each other enough. It is therefore not without reason that both clubs are each other’s arch rivals. The rivalry between the people of Amsterdam and Rotterdam may now also be expressed in another area. The transfer of Justin Bijlow appears to play a crucial role in this.

The just 28-year-old goalkeeper recently left Feyenoord for an adventure in Italy. There he signed a deal with Genoa CFC. If that club manages to maintain itself in Serie A (the highest competition in the country), a purchase option of 200,000 euros will be activated. Bijlow’s departure has been in the air for some time, but is now official.

📝 Genoa CFC announces that it has finalized the definitive acquisition of the sporting rights of goalkeeper Justin Bijlow with Feyenoord Rotterdam.

Born in Rotterdam on 01/22/1998, Bijlow grew up in football at Feyenoord, making over 150 appearances… pic.twitter.com/pkrRdV2z9U

— Genoa CFC (@GenoaCFC) January 20, 2026

The fact that the closing post has left also has consequences for Feyenoord’s selection. The Rotterdam team now only has two goalkeepers with Timon Wellenreuther and Liam Bossin. It therefore seems logical By Stadionclub to look for a third goalkeeper to expand the options for trainer Robin van Persie. Jari De Busser of Go Ahead Eagles has already been linked to Feyenoord.

Ajax is experiencing problems

It is precisely the search for a new goalkeeper that will also cause Ajax problems. The Amsterdam team will also run into problems in that position at the end of this season. Vitezslav Jaros returns to Liverpool after his rental period, while Remko Pasveer is likely to end his career. At the same time, goalkeepers Joeri Heerkens, Paul Reverson and Charlie Setford do not seem ready for a place under the bar.

Ajax will also enter the transfer market and look for a new goalkeeper. Long story short: Feyenoord is also fishing in that pond, which will undoubtedly mean that both clubs will get in each other’s way and may also show interest in the same goalkeepers. As a result, Ajax and Feyenoord will also have to compete with each other in the transfer market and the rivalry goes beyond that within the lines of the football field.

What does Ajax do with Joeri Heerkens?

Last summer, Ajax managed to strengthen itself with Joeri Heerkens for two million euros. The nineteen-year-old goalkeeper transferred from the Czech top club Sparta Prague to the Amsterdam team. There were soon rumors that he was the intended new first goalkeeper, but that he first had to gain experience for a season.

Based on data from FootballTransfers In any case, he doesn’t seem ready for a place under the bar yet. The youngster has a Skill rating of 43.1, which puts him far below the Ajax average of 62.3. Striking detail: Vitezslav Jaros (53.4) and Remko Pasveer (53.3) are also well below average. It underlines the major concerns that people must have in the Johan Cruijff ArenA when it comes to the level of the goalkeepers and also shows that they will have to work on the transfer market.