Ajax Sign Femke Liefting on Loan from Chelsea
Ajax have moved to strengthen their goalkeeping department with the loan signing of Chelsea stopper Femke Liefting for the 2026/27 campaign, handing the Dutch youth international a return to familiar ground and, crucially, the promise of regular minutes.
The deal, confirmed by Ajax on their official channels on Friday morning, sends the 21-year-old back to the Azerion Vrouwen Eredivisie after an 18–month spell in England that never quite caught fire.
From Alkmaar prodigy to Chelsea prospect
Liefting’s rise has been rapid, if not straightforward. She broke through at VV Alkmaar, earning a reputation as one of the most exciting young goalkeepers in the Dutch game, before crossing to neighbours AZ in 2023.
Her form there did not go unnoticed. Chelsea, then and now the benchmark in the Barclays Women’s Super League, moved in January 2025, signing her as a long-term project for the London club’s goalkeeping group.
The step up was huge. The timing, less kind.
Foot and hip injuries stalled her progress just as she was trying to adjust to the intensity and demands of English football. Instead of a smooth transition into one of Europe’s elite squads, she found herself fighting just to stay fit, training more than playing, watching more than influencing.
A loan spell at Newcastle United last season finally gave her a taste of the rhythm she had been missing. It wasn’t a full campaign of starts, but it was enough to put match minutes back in her legs and remind everyone why Chelsea had moved for her in the first place.
Ajax bet on potential and pedigree
Ajax now step in at a pivotal moment. They are not taking a gamble on an unknown. They are bringing back a goalkeeper who has already shown she can handle the Vrouwen Eredivisie and has since been exposed to the standards of a Champions League-chasing club.
Technical manager Dolf Roks made that point clear, outlining exactly what Ajax believe they are getting.
“Femke is a talented goalkeeper who has already proven her quality in the Vrouwen Eredivisie. She also gained valuable experience at the highest level during her time at Chelsea, where she continued to develop. We are delighted that she will add experience and quality to our squad for the coming season,” he said.
For Ajax, it is a smart, targeted move: a young, Dutch, already battle-tested keeper, arriving with top-level training habits and with something to prove.
For Liefting, it is something even more important: a reset.
A crucial season in a long Chelsea contract
Despite the loan, Chelsea have not cut ties. Liefting remains under contract at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2028, a clear sign the WSL champions still see value in her long-term development.
That makes this season in Amsterdam more than just a homecoming. It is an audition.
Regular game time in the Eredivisie, consistent performances, and a full, injury-free year could propel her back into Chelsea’s plans or, at the very least, onto the radar of Europe’s top clubs as a starting goalkeeper rather than a promising understudy.
The equation is simple now. Ajax need reliability and presence between the posts. Liefting needs a full season of real football.
If she delivers, this won’t just be a loan that fills a gap. It could be the year that finally turns potential into status.
