Ajax ends financial year in profit despite disappointing season
The Amsterdam club benefited financially from Champions League income and transfer proceeds, while costs continued to rise.
Ajax ended the 2025/2026 financial year with a net profit of €2 million. The financial improvement was mainly driven by higher European income and transfer proceeds, despite a disappointing season on the pitch.
The net profit marks a clear improvement on the previous financial year, when Ajax reported a loss of €37.3 million. According to the club, the result therefore increased by €39.3 million. The annual accounts have received an unqualified auditor’s opinion from PwC, but still need to be formally approved by the shareholders.
Revenue rose by €10.2 million to €188.3 million. Ajax attributes the increase mainly to higher European bonuses, as the men’s team took part in the Champions League instead of the Europa League. Costs also rose, by €9 million to €206.5 million.
Some of the higher costs are related to participation in the Champions League and the associated wage costs. Ajax also cites financial setbacks, such as compensation for spectators after the abandoned match against FC Groningen and the cost of dismissing the head coach.
The sporting season lagged behind the financial development. Ajax finished 32nd in the league phase of the Champions League and therefore failed to reach the knockout stage. In the Eredivisie, the club finished fifth. Through the play-offs, Ajax qualified for the second qualifying round of the Conference League.
Transfers also made an important contribution to the result. The transfer result before amortisation was €65.5 million. After amortisation of transfer fees, a positive transfer result of €26.7 million remained. That was an improvement of €57.7 million compared with the previous financial year.
For the new financial year, the financial starting position looks less favourable. Ajax are now playing in the Conference League and will therefore miss out on the European income associated with participation in the Champions League. The club says it will therefore place greater emphasis on cost control and financial discipline.
The profit therefore says something not only about sporting performance, but also about the dependence on European football and transfer income. Ajax itself warns that the result in 2026/2027 will partly depend on sporting performance, new transfers and the implementation of the announced savings.
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The financial and sporting figures are consistent with the official Ajax statement. The text makes clear that the annual accounts still need to be formally approved and does not attribute the profit solely to sporting success.
- confirmed Ajax recorded a net profit of €2 million in 2025/2026. — This is stated in Ajax’s official press release. source
- confirmed Ajax suffered a loss of €37.3 million in the previous financial year. — Ajax gives this as the comparative figure. source
- confirmed Revenue rose to €188.3 million. — The amount and the increase are included in the published key figures. source
- confirmed Ajax finished 32nd in the Champions League and fifth in the Eredivisie. — Ajax cites both sporting finishing positions in the financial statement. source
- confirmed The transfer result before amortisation was €65.5 million. — This figure appears in the notes to the annual figures. source
- confirmed The annual accounts have received an unqualified auditor’s opinion, but still need to be approved by the shareholders. — Ajax mentions both the auditor’s opinion and the forthcoming shareholders’ meeting. source