Brian Brobbey
Brobbey playing for Ajax in 2023
Personal information
Full name Brian Ebenezer Adjei Brobbey
Date of birth (2002-02-01) 1 February 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Ajax
Number 9
Youth career
0000–2010 AFC
2010–2018 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Jong Ajax 32 (16)
2020–2021 Ajax 12 (3)
2021–2022 RB Leipzig 9 (0)
2022 → Ajax (loan) 11 (7)
2022– Ajax 53 (27)
International career‡
2017 Netherlands U15 6 (4)
2017 Netherlands U16 5 (5)
2017–2019 Netherlands U17 24 (16)
2019 Netherlands U19 2 (1)
2021– Netherlands U21 17 (9)
2023– Netherlands 1 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Netherlands
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Winner England 2018
Winner Ireland 2019
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 February 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 June 2023

Brian Ebenezer Adjei Brobbey (born 1 February 2002) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a striker for Eredivisie club Ajax and the Netherlands national team.

Club career

Early career

Brobbey began his youth career with AFC before joining the Ajax academy in 2010.[2][3]

Ajax

Brobbey made his Ajax debut in the Eredivisie on 31 October 2020, coming on as a substitute and scoring in a 5–2 victory over Fortuna Sittard.[4] He made his European debut in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League against Atalanta on 9 December 2020 and his performance was praised by coach Erik ten Hag.[5]

On 3 February 2021, Ajax director of football Marc Overmars, confirmed that Brobbey would leave the club at the expiry of his contract at the end of the season.[6] Brobbey scored his first goal in a European competition on 18 February, netting Ajax's second goal in their Europa League round of 32 first leg away win over Lille.[7]

RB Leipzig

On 12 March 2021, RB Leipzig announced the signing of Brobbey.[8] He joined them on 1 July 2021.[8]

Return to Ajax on loan

On 27 December 2021, it was announced that Brobbey would return to Ajax on a six-month loan spell without an option to buy.[9] He was assigned shirt number 18, previously worn that season by Jurgen Ekkelenkamp.[10] He made his first appearance on 16 January 2022 in an away match against FC Utrecht as the starting striker, securing two goals before being substituted-off in the 70th minute for Davy Klaassen in a 3–0 victory.[11]

Return to Ajax

On 22 July 2022, Ajax confirmed the re-signing of Brian Brobbey on a five-year contract for a fee of €16.35 million plus €3 million in potential add ons.[12] He made his competitive return debut on the first matchday of the 2022–23 season, also scoring his first return goal for Ajax in a 3–2 away win over Fortuna Sittard on 6 August.[13] On 16 and 22 October 2022, Brobbey scored back-to-back braces, leading his team to a 7–1 victory over Excelsior and a 4–1 win over RKC Waalwijk, respectively.[14][15] Brobbey scored 14 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions during the season, as he was in and out of the starting lineup under first head coach Alfred Schreuder, and since interim coach John Heitinga.[16][17]

In the following season, Brobbey began as a starter in attack under newly appointed manager Maurice Steijn.[18]

International career

Born in the Netherlands, Brobbey is of Ghanaian descent.[19] Brobbey represented the Netherlands U17 at both the 2018 and 2019 editions of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, winning both competitions respectively.[20][21]

In October 2022, Brobbey was included in the preliminary squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[22]

In October 2023, he received his first official call-up to the Netherlands senior national team for two UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers against France and Greece.[23]

Personal life

He is a younger brother of fellow football player Samuel Brobbey and cousin to Derrick Luckassen and Kevin Luckassen.[24]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 22 February 2024[25]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jong Ajax 2018–19 Eerste Divisie 2 0 — — — 2 0
2019–20 13 7 — — — 13 7
2020–21 17 9 — — — 17 9
Total 32 16 — — — 32 16
Ajax 2020–21 Eredivisie 12 3 0 0 7[b] 3 — 19 6
RB Leipzig 2021–22 Bundesliga 9 0 1 0 4[c] 0 — 14 0
Ajax (loan) 2021–22 Eredivisie 11 7 1 0 1[c] 0 — 13 7
Ajax 2022–23 32 13 4 1 7[d] 0 1[e] 0 44 14
2023–24 21 14 1 1 10[f] 3 — 32 18
Total 53 27 5 2 17 3 1 0 76 32
Career total 117 52 7 2 29 6 1 0 154 60
  1. ^ Includes DFB-Pokal, KNVB Cup
  2. ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and three goals in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield
  6. ^ Eight appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

As of match played 16 October 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Netherlands 2023 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

Ajax

Netherlands U17

Individual

References

  1. ^ "B. Brobbey: Summary". soccerway. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Ajax legt goaltjesdief Brobbey (16) vast". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 7 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Brian Brobbey | Ajax Showtime". ajaxshowtime.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Ajax thrash Fortuna Sittard 5-2". ESPN. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Brian Brobbey: Ajax boss Ten Hag commends Ghana target despite Champions League disappointment". Goal. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Brobbey to leave Ajax". Football Oranje. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Weah on target but Ajax stun Lille". Ligue 1. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  8. ^ a b "RasenBallsport Leipzig - Brobbey joins RB Leipzig". RB Leipzig Official Website. 12 March 2021. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Brian Brobbey keert op huurbasis terug bij Ajax, geen optie tot koop". Het Parool. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Brobbey: 'Ten Hag zei na één wedstrijd tegen me: Tijd dat je terug naar huis komt'".
  11. ^ "Utrecht vs. Ajax". Soccerway. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Ajax and RB Leipzig reach agreement for Brian Brobbey". Ajax. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Ajax begint eredivisie met zege op Fortuna dankzij reparatie in de rust". NOS (in Dutch). 6 August 2022. Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Ajax speelt chagrijn van zich af met doelpuntenfestijn tegen Excelsior". NOS (in Dutch). 16 October 2022. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Berghuis wijst pover Ajax met twee treffers en fraaie assist de weg in Waalwijk". NOS (in Dutch). 22 October 2022. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Brobbey rekent na nieuwe dubbelslag op behouden van basisplaats". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 22 October 2022. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  17. ^ Planting, Sam (4 April 2023). "Waarom Brian Brobbey ondanks doelpuntendrift stokt in zijn ontwikkeling". Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  18. ^ Meijaard, Thijs (25 August 2023). "Maurice Steijn neemt het op voor Brian Brobbey en is lovend over 'een van zijn beste spelers' bij Ajax". FCUpdate.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Ajax-debutant Brobbey 'moet behaagd worden': 'Contract loopt af, is ook politiek'". www.voetbalprimeur.nl.
  20. ^ a b Sky Sports (20 May 2019). "Netherlands win U17 European Championship after penalty shootout win over Italy". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Netherlands clinch title". UEFA. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  22. ^ @OnsOranje (21 October 2022). "🦁 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝: This is the longlist of 39 players where our final World Cup 2022 squad will be selected from! 📋" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ^ "Nick Olij debuteert in Oranjeselectie" [Nick Olij debutes in Dutch national team squad]. KNVB (in Dutch). 6 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  24. ^ Brian Brobbey at Soccerway
  25. ^ "B. Brobbey". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  26. ^ "Neres' stoppage-time goal seals Dutch Cup win". AFC Ajax. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Brobbey crowned Eredivisie player of the month, Tahirović Johan Cruyff talent of the month". Eredivisie. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  28. ^ "Brian Brobbey is Johan Cruijff Talent of the Month in May". Eredivisie. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  29. ^ "Xavi Simons named as Eredivisie Player of the Month August". Eredivisie. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  30. ^ "Brian Brobbey is Johan Cruijff Talent of the Month for October". Eredivisie. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  31. ^ "Seven clubs provide players for Eredivisie team of the month (May)". Eredivisie. 20 May 2022.
  32. ^ "Xavi Simons named as Eredivisie Player of the Month August". Eredivisie. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  33. ^ "Cody Gakpo is the Eredivisie Player of the Month for the second month running". Eredivisie. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.

External links

AFC Ajax – current squad
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