#4 Jairo Riedewald (Ajax)
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The next young defender on our list is Ajax’s centre-back Jairo Riedewald. Riedewald joined the SC Overbos as a kid and was on their books until 2007 when the famed Ajax academy pried him away having recognised his potential to grow into a top notch defender and they could not have been wrong about it.
Initially involved with the club’s youth sides, the defender made his senior Ajax debut on 19th December, 2013 in his side’s KNVB cup tie against IJsselmeervogels and followed it up with his senior debut in the Eredivisie just a few days later. Over the last 2 seasons, the player has established himself as a regular at the club and has already notched up over 50 senior appearances for the side, despite being just 20 years old.
The versatile player, who can also play as a defensive midfielder or a central midfielder is very tidy with his passing as well as in possession. He likes to help his side build up play from the back while ensuring that he does his fair share of defensive work and that has helped him establish himself as one of the brightest young defenders in The Netherlands.
