Former Arsenal wonderkid ‘banished by Ajax over WHATSAPP and told only to arrive at training ground when pals have left'
Star opened up on an offer from Saudi Arabia
Tough to Chu Former Arsenal wonderkid 'banished by Ajax over WHATSAPP and told only to arrive at training ground when pals have left'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
CHUBA AKPOM has been brutally axed from the Ajax first-team over WHATSAPP, according to reports.
The former Arsenal star is one of seven players who have allegedly been told to find new clubs this summer.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
4
Chuba Akpom has been axed from the Ajax squad over WHATSAPP
Credit: Getty
4
He is one of seven stars informed of the decision
Credit: Getty
4
It comes as part of a new direction under John Heitinga, who left Liverpool last month to take up the role
Credit: Getty
Akpom, 29, is on a list with Carlos Forbs, Borna Sosa, Kristian Hlynsson, Christian Rasmussen, Jay Gorter and Branco van den Boomen.
Club bosses want to sell the seven players to raise funds for new arrivals.
According to De Telegraaf, Akpom and co will not even be allowed to use the field and gym facilities until AFTER the first team has had lunch.
The Dutch giants technical director, Alex Kroes, messaged each of the affected players and told them they would not be welcome at the club after Sunday.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
WISH ROO WERE HERE? Wayne Rooney pictured looking glum on holiday with Coleen & Utd legends
Furthermore, their car parking spots have been taken away and there is now only one physiotherapist available between them.
Sun Sport has contacted Ajax for comment.
It comes as part of a brutal cull by new boss John Heitinga.
The 41-year-old left his role as Liverpool assistant last month to take up the job.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
He made more than 200 appearances for the Eredivisie outfit as a player before spells as the reserve team boss and interim head coach.
Arsenal academy graduate Akpom joined Ajax from Middlesbrough in 2023 for £10.5m.
Christian Norgaard to Arsenal LATEST | Transfers Exposed
After struggling for minutes at Ajax this season he joined Ligue 1 side Lille on loan in the winter transfer window.
He recently opened up on how he laid awake for days after receiving an offer from Saudi Arabia when he was with the Championship outfit.
Akpom told LavieCutz on TikTok: "Before I signed for Ajax, I received an offer from Saudi Arabia.
"I barely slept for five nights. When you hear that there is interest in you, it is different than when you actually see it on paper.
"Then all kinds of things happen in your body. Everything starts to itch. I lay awake for days. My girlfriend and I were lying in bed thinking about everything.
"You're about to get a certain amount of money, but you don't have it yet, but in your head, you're already spending it.
"My girlfriend and I were in Disneyland and thinking about everything we could get…"
4
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Ross Doohan reveals Kieran Tierney Celtic transfer message
As the left-back put it himself, there was an air of 'getting the band back together' when Ross Doohan re-joined Celtic this week. The goalkeeper, 27, put pen to paper on a three-year deal this week as he sealed a return to his boyhood club. The goalkeeper was a free agent following the expiry of his contract at Aberdeen, where he signed after a spell south of the border. The recent full Scotland debutant – who came to Steve Clarke's rescue after injuries suffered by Angus Gunn and Robby McCrorie in the international double-header at the start of the month – will compete alongside Viljami Sinisalo to be back-up to the undisputed Celtic first-choice goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. With Scott Bain away, Doohan essentially takes his place in the squad, helping with the club's home-grown quota for the Champions League. Doohan knows Tierney's return from Arsenal is the headline news among supporters. But he's determined to prove his worth after coming back to the club he loves following three years away from Celtic Park. 'I've had a few conversations with him, but I worked under him before, so he knows what he's getting from me and I'm looking forward to working under him again because he's a top, top manager,' the keeper explained before addressing his relationship with Tierney. 'KT was a year older than me growing up in the youth teams, but we obviously played together a lot. 'You obviously know the type of player KT is, what he's like and the type of person he's like, so it's another great addition to the squad. 'I spoke to him when I went away on Scotland duty, so we were both there together when I got the late call. 'He was there chatting, but I've known KT for years now, so I was just looking forward to getting back to it. I think he said to me when I saw him it was about getting the band back together. 'He said that to me when I saw him so it's obviously great coming back and then me and him in the same situation, leaving a few years then later both coming back. 'We've always had a good relationship. We spoke a lot, although, in the last few years, maybe not as much. But every time we see each other, we chat away and always had the conversation. 'I've got the relationship with Tony [Ralston} because he was in the same youth squad as me from 13, so we went right through it together. We're pretty close. 'One of my loan spells was at Ayr, so me and Luke [McCowan] played together for quite a bit. We played together for two seasons, so I still keep in contact with him, so it's good to come back to a good few familiar faces.' Doohan never managed to play a senior game for Celtic alongside Tierney, so, he is hoping to do so in his second spell at the club. They featured heavily in the Under-17s, 19s and 20s during their academy days. If he's to do so, the chances are he'll require either, a loss or form from Schmeichel, or to take advantage of someone else's misfortune on the injury front. Doohan was part of a tight-knit goalkeeper network at Lennoxtown before. He would have worked closely with Fraser Forster, Joe Hart and Craig Gordon in the past. So, he's fully aware of the standards set within the squad he's arriving into. He said: 'I'm buzzing about working with him because you've seen the level Kasper's played at. 'To go in and train day in, day out with him, can only put myself in good stead and to try and pick up wee traits of his that could maybe benefit my game and put me, maybe step me on and make me that bit better. It's the same with working with Vil. 'Obviously he came in and played a few games towards the end of last season. You've seen the level he's at, but I feel like any place I go, the goalkeepers I work with, I just try and pick up bits and pieces from them and add them into my game. 'I'm just buzzing about working with Woodsy [Stevie Woods] because they're top goalie coaches and even with Colin Meldrum as well, the youth goalie coach that I had here. I just can't wait to get going. 'Kasper's all-round game is great. The calmness he's got with it. But like you said, with the ball at his feet, he's different level, I think. 'So I'll just try and pick up bits and pieces from every part of his game and try and implement it into mine if it can make me a better keeper. I'm looking forward to that.' Doohan signed permanently for Forest Green Rovers when he departed Celtic in 2022. Here, he played under Duncan Ferguson, during the former Scotland, Dundee United and Rangers striker's brief stint in charge. While it didn't go to plan for Ferguson, Doohan was grateful for the experience of working with him. 'Big Dunc is a great guy,' he added. 'The time at Forest Green, we didn't do too great, but you could see what he was like as a guy and that. He was brand new, so there's not too much complaints there working under him. 'He came in maybe two weeks after I joined. Everyone's got their reputation, but you only get to see it at face value when you actually meet them. 'The times I spoke to him, he was brand new. Obviously, I was down there, a bit away from home, but he always helped and asked if I was all right, chatted away. I've not got a bad word to say about him. 'There were a few Scottish people there. There was a wee group of us there, so you could say that as well. When he came in, working under him, it was an experience. 'It was good and something that's landed me in good stead coming through. I feel every club I've been at, every experience I've had, has led me to where I am now. I wouldn't change anything for the world.'
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Smiling Emma Raducanu & Carlos Alcaraz grow closer as pair spotted with arms round each other in pics for water brand
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SMILING tennis aces Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz grow closer on and off court — and seem destined for a love match. Brit Emma, 22, put her arm around the world No.2 as he joined her as a global brand ambassador for bottled water Wimbledon sponsor Evian. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz grow closer on and off court — and seem destined for a love match Credit: Getty 2 Emma put her arm around Carlos as he joined her as a global brand ambassador for bottled water Wimbledon sponsor Evian Credit: Getty In another snap, the pair — due to partner at the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship in August — laughed on court and have a clear 'spark', insiders say. World No.38 Emma set tongues wagging when she was seen cheering on Wimbledon favourite Carlos, 22, at Queen's Club earlier this month. She tried to play down rumours of a blossoming relationship at a press conference yesterday, grinning as she insisted that she and Spaniard Carlos are 'just good friends'. The pair will team up at the Billie Jean King Tennis Centre in August as they both look to add a doubles success to their US Open singles titles. SunSport exclusively revealed earlier this week that the duo's relationship goes further than the court, but Raducanu insists there's no romance. When asked about it in her pre-Wimbledon press conference, the British star said while giggling: "We're just good friends". Raducanu is jumping at the idea of teaming up with the World No2, who is hot off the heels of winning the French Open earlier this month. Recalling when Alcaraz asked her to join forces, Raducanu said: "I mean, of course, I had to ask my team if they wanted me to play. "But for me, when he asked me, I was going to say yes, I just had to kind of go through the formality of asking my coach, so I didn't just make the decision." On how they became friends, Raducanu added: "I've known him for years. Emma Raducanu opens up on relationship with Carlos Alcaraz and when they first grew close as they enjoy cosy days out "And actually in Wimbledon 2021 it was like kind of the first time I started getting to know him, and I had a good run there and then also again in the US Open in 2021." Brit No.2 Katie Boulter, 28, said yesterday she feels 'safe' at Wimbledon after revealing she and her family have had death threats.
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Chelsea battling Premier League rivals for Joao Pedro after bid rejected
Joao Pedro has thrived for Brighton in the Premier League since joining from Watford but the Seagulls face a tall order to keep hold of the Brazilian international Chelsea are battling it out with Newcastle to sign Brighton striker Joao Pedro. Newcastle have already had a £50m-plus bid turned down by Brighton who will not allow the Brazil international to go on the cheap. Chelsea are also keen and have held discussions over signing the 23-year-old who would add options and versatility to their forward line. That would raise serious question marks over the futures of Christopher Nkunku who has been heavily linked with Manchester United and also Nicolas Jackson. Jackson was sent off in the Club World Cup which means he has been serving a ban in two separate competitions after missing the end of the Premier League season after getting a red card. Brighton have rejected bids from two separate Premier League clubs with Liverpool and Arsenal also having been linked with the versatile forward who can play through the middle and wide. Chelsea have held discussions but are now pushing to get a deal done and it remains to be seen whether they can agree a deal. Chelsea have been very active in this window as they are still looking to get a deal done for Borussia Dortmund 's Jamie Gittens. Brighton signed Pedro from Watford in a deal worth around £30m in the summer of 2023 and will want to get a big profit. Pedro, who has scored 30 goals in 70 Albion appearances, is a long-term target of Newcastle as who were also keen in 2022. But now Newcastle face a fight on their hands with Chelsea and other Premier League clubs keen on the Brazilian. Pedro was banished from Fabian Hurzeler's squad for the final two Premier League matches of the season following an alleged training ground spat with Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Now his future could be elsewhere if anyone can meet Brighton's price. Earlier this month, Brighton boss Hurzeler suggested he expects to have Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma back for pre-season training. Mitoma was the subject of interest from the Saudi Pro League last season but ended up staying put. "For sure. I'm really looking forward for both of them," the boss tols Sky Sports. "They're great players and they helped us a lot last season. They're expected to be back next week." Brighton have already spent big this summer, with Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas joining from Olympiacos for around £30m. Tommy Watson and Diego Coppola have also completed moves, from Sunderland and Verona respectively. "I think they all have great potential. We keep doing our way, signing young players with big potential and trying to develop them," Hurzeler added. "That's what we'll try to do with these new signings and I'm sure they will make us better." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
