AFC Ajax defender Aaron Bouwman is sidelined indefinitely following a heavy collision in the Eredivisie match against PSV. The 19-year-old talent suffered a bruised sternum and lung and will not play again in September, the Amsterdam club announced.
The impact occurred during Saturday evening's 1-3 defeat to PSV. Bouwman collided hard with PSV player Ruben van Bommel and had to be immediately taken off the pitch. Referee Sander van der Eijk showed only a yellow card for the challenge. According to Voetbal International, the defender remained in hospital under observation on Sunday. "The defender will stay in hospital for observation on Sunday," Ajax confirmed in an official statement.
How long will Aaron Bouwman's recovery take?
The Amsterdam club has made it clear that Bouwman will be unavailable for the coming weeks. "As a result, Bouwman will not be in action for the rest of September," the announcement stated. An exact return date was not given, but the nature of the injuries suggests a recovery period of several weeks. The bruised lung and sternum require rest and careful rehabilitation before a return to the pitch is possible.
The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Ajax, who currently sit fifth in the Eredivisie with seven points from four matches. The team has a goal difference of plus four, having scored nine and conceded five. They trail leaders PSV by six points. The full league table can be followed on our standings page.
What does this mean for the Ajax squad?
The loss of Bouwman is a significant blow to manager Maurice Steijn's defensive options. The young defender had been one of the regular fixtures in the backline this season. His absence forces adjustments, potentially giving more playing time to other defenders in the squad. The injury comes just before an important away match against Fortuna Sittard on September 12.
That match in Sittard is the next opportunity for Ajax to pick up points and close the gap on PSV. Fortuna sits seventh and will be a tough opponent. The coming weeks are vital for the Amsterdam side's season. Fans can view the planning for the upcoming period in the fixtures overview.
How did the football world react to the incident?
The collision between Bouwman and Van Bommel sparked debate about the refereeing. Many viewers felt Van der Eijk's yellow card was lenient for a tackle that resulted in such a serious injury. On the other hand, PSV supporters defended their player after the match, emphasizing it was an unfortunate action without malicious intent.
For Ajax, the focus is now fully on Bouwman's recovery and preparing for the match against Fortuna Sittard. The team has had a mixed start to the season with two wins, a draw, and a defeat. The team's statistics are available on the stats page. The next Eredivisie match is on September 12 at 8:00 PM in the Fortuna Sittard Stadium.
