Stoke City player eyed up by Dutch giants Ajax in potential transfer swoop | OneFootball

Stoke City's Jaden Dixon is attracting transfer interest this summer

Ajax are plotting a move to sign Stoke City's teenage defender Jaden Dixon this summer.

According to Football Insider, the 18-year-old is attracting interest from the Dutch giants after making his first league appearances at senior level last season.

The youngster is a very highly rated prospect coming through from the Potters’ academy system, having joined from Tottenham in the summer of 2023.

Dixon featured three times in the Championship last season, and also made appearances in the EFL Cup before their fourth round elimination to Southampton.

Stoke City youngster Jaden Dixon wanted by Ajax

Dixon’s brief appearances in the Championship for Stoke last season, as well as at England under-18's level, have earned him the attention of Ajax going into the summer transfer window.

It has been reported that the Eredivisie side are monitoring the youngster, sending scouts to watch his performances at international level for the Three Lions.

Dixon has played for England's under-18's 11 times in his career, with those performances leading to the teen being shortlisted by the Dutch club as a potential signing for the future.

The 18-year-old originally came through the Tottenham Hotspur academy system before signing for the Championship side in 2023, and he subsequently turned professional last May.

He made his debut in the EFL Cup early last season, playing all 90 minutes in the Potters’ 2-0 win over Carlisle United in August.

Dixon also appeared off the bench in league games against Watford and Plymouth Argyle, but his last game at senior level was in October, starting in a 3-2 loss to the Saints.

It remains to be seen whether Stoke are willing to listen to offers for Dixon as they prepare for another year in the Championship, where they will be hoping to improve on yet another bottom-half finish - their seventh in succession since being relegated from the Premier League in 2018.

Ajax could be an exciting opportunity for Jaden Dixon if acceptable transfer bid comes

Dixon broke into Stoke's first-team plans at the beginning of the campaign, but the managerial merry-go-round stunted his development.

Steven Schumacher started the season in the dugout before Narcis Pelach and then Robins took over, so it would have been tough for Dixon to get used to the changes that come with a head coach alteration - let alone two in quick succession.

It will be hoped that Robins can now provide some much-needed stability to the first-team, but it is unclear whether Dixon is a part of his immediate first-team plans, having not been in any of his Championship squads since his arrival at the bet365 Stadium.

This could open the door for Ajax, especially as the opportunity to play for such a big club could be quite exciting for the youngster, and we are now seeing many more British youngsters head into mainland Europe to continue their development.