Youri Baas

Youri Baas is a Dutch left-back who has also developed into a left-sided centre-back for Ajax. He began at local club OVV before joining Excelsior in 2012, then entered Ajax’s youth academy in 2018. Baas made his professional debut for Jong Ajax in December 2020 and spent three seasons with the reserves in the Eerste Divisie. He made his Ajax first-team debut in August 2022, appearing in a 2–0 win over FC Utrecht, before moving to NEC Nijmegen on loan for the 2023–24 season. At NEC, he recorded 27 league appearances and three goals while helping the club reach the KNVB Cup final, gaining experience in a more central role. Returning to Ajax, Baas continued that positional development and was named Ajax Talent of the Year in 2025; he has also represented the Netherlands through Under-21 level and received a senior call-up in March 2025.