Yves Bissouma's Potential Move to Ajax: Talent with Baggage

Yves Bissouma is close to joining Ajax, and the news has quickly crossed the Channel. In England, the reaction has been sharp – and far from purely footballing.

The Mali international spent the last four years on the books at Tottenham Hotspur, a spell that promised more than it delivered. Nobody in the British press is questioning his talent. They are questioning everything around it.

Talent with baggage

Jack Johnson of talkSPORT did not sugarcoat it. He pointed out that Spurs’ decision not to extend Bissouma’s contract “did not come as a surprise,” linking it not only to the midfielder’s knee injury in his final season, but also to “various problems he had off the pitch.”

According to Johnson, repeated lateness became a serious issue. Then-manager Thomas Frank eventually dropped him from the squad for what was described as a “lack of discipline.” That was the moment the narrative around Bissouma shifted decisively in England: from gifted midfielder to risky bet.

talkSPORT went further, tying that disciplinary action directly to a controversial social media video. Bissouma was seen using nitrous oxide, a clip that quickly circulated and drew heavy criticism. Even after his suspension, he was reportedly filmed a second time with a nitrous oxide balloon.

The story stopped being about form and fitness. It became about judgement and lifestyle.

A traumatic backdrop

The Mirror added a darker layer to the picture. The paper reported that Bissouma later explained how a burglary at his home had deeply affected him. He is said to have described the incident as traumatic, claiming it triggered anxiety, panic, depression and paranoia.

Within that context, he reportedly linked his use of nitrous oxide to the emotional fallout of the break-in. It painted a more complex portrait: not just a footballer making reckless choices, but one struggling with the mental scars of a serious intrusion.

Even with that nuance, the British media remain wary. Sympathy for his situation has not erased the sense of risk.

A warning for Ajax

As Ajax move towards completing the deal, the tone from England is clear: proceed, but with eyes wide open.

“The Sun” issued a blunt warning, arguing that Ajax will have to monitor Bissouma more closely than his previous clubs did “to prevent a repeat of that situation.” The message is unmistakable. This is not a plug-and-play signing. It is a high-maintenance one.

In the Netherlands, doubts are surfacing too. On Monday evening, Valentijn Driessen spoke on Vandaag Inside and echoed the scepticism.

He dismissed the move in biting terms, describing Bissouma as “some Malian who is more into nitrous oxide than he is present at training. Nitrous oxide for recreational use, and for a footballer at that!” He then drew a pointed comparison, recalling how Jordi Cruyff reportedly did not want Noa Lang because he was considered a difficult character. “But if you bring this one in… then you really are bringing in trouble,” Driessen said.

The criticism is harsh, personal and unambiguous. Ajax know exactly how this transfer is being framed abroad and at home.

High risk, high reward?

For now, the deal is moving forward. Bissouma is reportedly in Amsterdam for his medical. If all goes as planned, he will sign a contract running until mid-2027, with an option for a further year.

Ajax are not just buying a midfielder with Premier League experience. They are taking on a player whose recent past is littered with red flags, but also with the kind of raw ability that once made him one of the most coveted holding midfielders in England.

The question is simple, and brutal: can Ajax be the club that finally unlocks the footballer without unleashing the chaos?