Simon Adingra suffers fresh injury blow at Ajax, Ivory Coast return in doubt

Ivory Coast international Simon Adingra has suffered another injury setback at Ajax Amsterdam, further delaying his attempts to establish himself at the Dutch club following his summer move from Sunderland.

The 24-year-old winger joined Ajax during the last summer transfer window on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy after struggling to secure a regular role at Sunderland.

However, his move to the Netherlands has not gone according to plan, with injuries and limited playing time hampering his progress.

Adingra has managed just one league appearance for Ajax since his arrival. His debut on October 10 had offered hope that he could begin making an impact, but the latest injury has interrupted his progress once again.

Ajax head coach Míchel Sánchez has confirmed that the club are uncertain about when the Ivorian winger will return to action, stressing that they are unwilling to rush his recovery.

“I don’t know when Simon Adingra will be back. We don’t want to take any risks with him,” Sánchez said.

The coach’s comments suggest that Ajax will prioritise the player’s full recovery rather than set a return date that could expose him to further injury problems.

For Adingra, the latest setback comes at a frustrating time as he looks to revive his career and secure regular football in the Netherlands. The winger arrived with hopes of making a significant contribution, but his limited involvement has prevented him from building momentum at his new club.

His immediate priority will be to regain full fitness before attempting to force his way into the Ajax starting lineup. With his future at the club also linked to the option-to-buy clause in his loan agreement, consistent performances will be important if he is to convince the Dutch side to consider a permanent deal.

The injury could also affect his prospects of returning to the Ivory Coast national team ahead of the November international break.

The Elephants are preparing for a double-header against The Gambia on November 12 and 17 in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Adingra’s availability will depend on the progress of his recovery and whether he can return to competitive action in time.

Having endured a difficult start to life in Amsterdam, the Ivorian winger will be hoping to overcome the latest setback and finally enjoy an uninterrupted run of games as he seeks to get his season back on track.