According to information we have obtained, Ajax and 28-year-old Danish striker Kasper Dolberg are in talks with Midtjylland over a potential transfer, with three-way negotiations having entered a substantive stage. After returning to Amsterdam last season for a fee of up to €10 million from Anderlecht, Dolberg failed to deliver performances commensurate with his price tag, and a departure has effectively become a foregone conclusion in this summer's squad reshuffle.
Disappointing Return: 8 Goals in 36 Games Fail to Convince
Dolberg left the Netherlands in 2019 and spent time at several clubs before signing a four-year deal to rejoin Ajax last summer, with expectations that the Danish international could rediscover his scoring touch. The numbers, however, tell a different story: he managed just eight goals in 36 appearances across all competitions, including only three in 22 Eredivisie outings. His goal output dipped further in the second half of the season, contributing only two strikes, with his last goal for Ajax coming on January 28 against Olympiacos in the Champions League — since then, his attacking output at the Johan Cruyff Arena has all but ground to a halt.
From the perspective of technical director Jordi Cruyff's squad-building plans, Dolberg's departure comes as little surprise. Cruyff is driving a roster overhaul at Ajax, emphasizing high pressing and collective intensity, and Dolberg fell short on tactical fit. For a club still renowned for developing young talent and maintaining competitive standards, a 28-year-old forward on a long contract who struggles to adapt to the new system was always likely to be earmarked for an exit. Recent results have also underscored that the team is in a transitional phase: Ajax followed a 2-0 league win with a 0-0 draw, and a rebuilding atmosphere is already spreading through the dressing room.
Return to Denmark: Midtjylland Extends an Olive Branch
FC Midtjylland, runners-up in the Danish Superliga, hope to bring Kasper Dolberg back home. For the player himself, this is not an unfamiliar path—he spent the formative years of his career at Silkeborg before leaving Denmark for Ajax in 2016, and longtime fans in the stands at JYSK Park still remember the young striker. Midtjylland's home ground, MCH Arena, has a capacity of 12,152 and remains competitive in Denmark's top flight year after year; last season they finished second in the standings behind Aarhus and have realistic ambitions of challenging for the title and European qualification.
For Midtjylland, signing a seasoned striker with Champions League experience who is familiar with the Danish football environment would directly strengthen their attacking depth. The team recently lost 2-3 in the league and urgently needs a reliable source of goals; if a Dolberg move goes through, he could be expected to take on dual roles as finisher and link-up player in midfield and attack. Silkeborg may have deeper ties with the player, but the main parties in this round of negotiations are Midtjylland and Ajax, with all three sides still discussing transfer details.
Contract and Valuation: Deal Still Faces Uncertainty
Dolberg's contract with Ajax runs until 2029, with a current market valuation of around €6.8 million. Given the player's age, remaining contract length, and the gap in last season's performances, the actual transfer fee may not match the valuation; talks may focus on the fee structure, the player's willingness, and whether Ajax can free up squad space while keeping the wage bill under control. Ajax need to make room and budget for Cruyff's rebuild, while Midtjylland must complete their forward-line upgrade before the new Danish Superliga season kicks off—the window is closing.
From a fan's perspective, Dølberg's departure from Amsterdam may carry a tinge of regret, but for Danish football, the return of a striker forged on Europe's top stage means attention will rise for Midtjylland and the domestic league alike. What bears watching next is whether negotiations can be finalized before the summer transfer window closes, and whether Dølberg can rediscover his goalscoring touch on familiar Nordic turf. If the deal goes through, his next stop will be Herning rather than Silkeborg, the club he left in 2016—but that arc from Denmark to the world stage and back to a Danish side is already enough to form a clear storyline in this summer's transfer window.
