Rayane Bounida: Dortmund eye move for Ajax attacking midfielder

Morocco- and Belgium-qualified midfielder Rayane Bounida of Ajax is being linked with a move to Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund as the German club assess options to strengthen their attacking midfield department.

Bounida, 20, is under contract in Amsterdam until June 2028 but his performances since breaking into the Ajax first team last season have attracted attention from abroad. Dortmund are monitoring the situation closely as they look at players who can operate between the lines and add creativity in the final third.

The Vilvoorde-born playmaker was promoted from Ajax’s youth ranks to the senior side on 1 September 2025 and has since accumulated Eredivisie and European experience. He has made 23 league appearances for Ajax, producing one goal and five assists, while also featuring in the Champions League. At domestic level he has also shown end product in the cup, scoring once and providing four assists across two appearances in the KNVB Beker.

Before establishing himself with the first team, Bounida progressed rapidly through the Ajax academy after joining from Anderlecht’s youth setup in 2022. His impact with Jong Ajax in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, where he recorded eight goals and four assists in 29 matches, underlined his ability to influence games at senior level.

Ajax, who currently value Bounida at around €5m, are under no pressure to sell given the length of his contract and his gradual integration into their midfield. For now, the 1.79m right-footed attacker remains part of Ajax’s plans as Dortmund continue to weigh up whether to translate their interest into a formal approach.