Ajax Bracing for Potential Departure of Manager Francesco Farioli

Ajax manager Francesco Farioli's future is uncertain as foreign clubs show interest in hiring him, despite the club's desire to keep him amid their successful season.

Ajax manager Francesco Farioli's tenure at the club may be shorter than expected, as Dutch media outlets have revealed the presence of a buyout clause in his contract. According to reports by Lentin Goodijk and Tim van Duijn of Voetbal International, Farioli's contract includes a limited buyout clause that could facilitate his departure as early as this summer.

Farioli, 35, signed a three-year contract with Ajax last summer, joining the club from OGC Nice amidst interest from several top European clubs. The buyout clause, reportedly valued at around €5 million, would allow any interested party to negotiate a deal with Farioli directly, effectively taking Ajax out of the equation.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Farioli's future, Ajax's on-field performance remains strong. The team's 2-0 victory over PSV in a crucial Eredivisie match last weekend has all but secured their 37th league title, with Ajax now holding a nine-point lead over PSV as the season draws to a close.

Ajax's journey has been rocky since Erik ten Hag's departure in the summer of 2022. The club finished third in the 2022/23 season, their lowest finish since 2009, and fifth in 2023/24. They have had five managers in the last three seasons and faced financial issues after Sven Mislintat's brief tenure as director of football. Italian manager Francesco Farioli was hired before this season, aiming to return Ajax to the Champions League. With Ajax now on the brink of winning their first title since 2022, foreign clubs are showing interest in Farioli.

Before last weekend's PSV clash, director of football Marijn Beuker provided an update on Farioli's contract situation on ESPN's 'Goedemorgen Eredivisie'. “Francesco still has an ongoing contract, and I believe that both with players and coaches, you always try to keep the group together, because the stability of the selection is a key predictor of success,” Beuker said. He added that the chances of Farioli staying at Ajax are “big,” indicating the club's desire to retain their manager amidst interest from other clubs.

Touch so smooth, Oliver Edvardsen 🪄 pic.twitter.com/9LcjCTJnCs

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) April 2, 2025