Ajax Amsterdam has announced the appointment of John Heitinga as the head coach of the first team, with a contract extending for two seasons until the summer of 2027, following his departure from Liverpool.

Liverpool confirmed via their official account the departure of Heitinga from his position as assistant to coach Arne Slot, in order to take on the coaching role at Ajax, where he will be assisted by Marcel Keizer as an assistant coach in the upcoming period.

Heitinga has previous coaching experience within Ajax at various age levels before taking on other roles as an assistant at Aston Villa and then Liverpool.

Heitinga expressed his happiness at taking on the responsibility, stating: "I am very excited to start this journey, the years I spent in England were very beneficial for me, and I learned a lot alongside David Moyes and Arne Slot."

He added: "I saw up close how to work within big clubs, and I feel that I am now ready to take on this experience as the head coach, and it is an honor to have this opportunity at Ajax."