Chelsea vs Ajax: UEFA Champions League 2025–26 Complete Match Preview

Chelsea defeated Ajax in a grand fashion at Stamford Bridge. They dominated the game from the start, as Ajax resorted to self-destructive tactics by picking up a red card very early in the match. As a result, Kenneth Taylor went back to the pavilion, leaving Ajax with just 10 players on the field. Chelsea took advantage of the situation and thrashed the Dutch giants by a final score line of 5-1.

Chelsea came into the match on the back of strong performances in the domestic and European campaign. They were confident going into the match against Ajax at Stamford Bridge, and the result clearly reflected that. On the other hand, Ajax arrived in London without having any victory in this year’s Champions League. They were looking to upset the hosts on their home turf, but, unfortunately, ended up getting smashed in humiliating fashion.

After defeating Ajax at Stamford Bridge, the Blues climbed to 11th in the points table. They would be feeling confident after this game, as it gave them a thumping victory against the best Dutch side in the UEFA Champions League 2025–26.  

In this article, we will analyze the squads of both teams to see how each side prepared for the Chelsea vs Ajax clash. Let’s first take a look at the complete lineup of Chelsea and Ajax for the UEFA Champions League 2025–26 below.

Chelsea Complete Squad for UEFA Champions League 2025–26

Goalkeepers: Robert Sánchez, Filip Jørgensen, Ted Curd, Max Merrick, Jack Austin, Hudson Sands, Toby Bell

Defenders: Marc Cucurella, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoît Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Jorrel Hato, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Joshua Acheampong, Genesis Antwi, Richard Olise, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Kobe Barbour, Harry McGlinchey, Kaiden Wilson, Olutayo Subuloye, Joseph Wheeler-Henry, Calvin Diakite, Isago Silva, Lewi Richards, Dante Waite

Midfielders: Enzo Fernández, Cole Palmer, Jamie Gittens, Andrey Santos, Moises Caicedo, Tyrique George, Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Facundo Buonanotte, Jimi Tauriainen, Romeo Lavia, Reggie Walsh, Harrison McMahon, Leo Cardoso, Landon Emenalo, Sol Gordon, Ollie Harrison, Yahya Idrissi-Regragui, Frankie Runham, Shaun Wade, Charles Holland, Jeremiah Berkeley-Agyepong, Ibrahim Rabbaj

Forwards: Pedro Neto, Liam Delap, João Pedro, Marc Guiu, Estêvão, Alejandro Garnacho, Ato Ampah, Shumaira Mheuka, Chizaram Ezenwata, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Joel Vidal-Philbert

Ajax Complete Squad for UEFA Champions League 2025–26

Goalkeepers: Vitězslav Jaroš, Joeri Heerkens, Remko Pasveer, Charlie Setford, Paul Reverson, Aymean El Hani

Defenders: Lucas Rosa, Anton Gaaei, Ko Itakura, Owen Wijndal, Youri Baas, Jorthy Mokio, Aaron Bouwman, Josip Šutalo, Gerald Alders, Ryan van de Pavert, Lucas Jetten, Jinairo Johnson, Luca Messori

Midfielders: Youri Regeer, Kenneth Taylor, Oscar Gloukh, James McConnell, Davy Klaassen, Branco van den Boomen, Kian Fitz-Jim, Rayane Bounida, Mark Verkuijl, Sean Steur, Mylo van de Lans, Tijn Peters, Nassef Chourak, Avery Appiah, Don O'Niel, Damián van der Vaart

Forwards: Raul Moro, Kasper Dolberg, Mika Godts, Oliver Edvardsen, Don-Angelo Konadu, Steven Berghuis, Wout Weghorst, Kayden Wolff, Skye Vink, David Kalokoh, Emre Unuvar

Match Preview

Chelsea showcased a dominant performance against a struggling Ajax at Stamford Bridge. They entered the match with some new names, as Enzo Maresca had confidence in the young guns. They blew away the Ajax team in the first half of the game, as the red card given to Kenneth Taylor became the decisive moment of the match.

By scoring goals in the 18th and 27th minutes, they set the dominating tone very early in the match. Estêvão became the standout performer for Chelsea, as he contributed valiantly in their victory against Ajax. After the game, it became clear that Ajax needs a lot of preparation before the next clash, as they are currently sitting at the bottom of the table.

Venue Details of Chelsea vs Ajax UEFA Clash

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London, England

Competition: UEFA Champions League 2025/26

Final Words

The match at Stamford Bridge looked one-sided, as Chelsea cruised to victory without facing any resistance from Ajax. The Dutch side played the match with only 10 men, as Kenneth Taylor picked up a red card very early in the match. The hosts made full use of the opportunity and scored back-to-back goals in the first half to put Ajax far behind in the match. It was a dominant display of class and precision that gave the Blues a solid victory on their home turf.