​The Dutch club announced the transfer news this morning through a post on their official website. The 21-year-old returns to the Azerion Vrouwen Eredivisie after spending the last 18 months in England. Liefting began her senior career with VV Alkmaar before moving to nearby AZ in 2023. Her performances quickly drew the attention of Chelsea, the Barclays Women’s Super League champions, and she signed with The Blues in January 2025.
Despite showing promise, the young goalkeeper has faced a challenging spell in England, with foot and hip injuries hampering her progress. She did gain some competitive minutes during a loan spell at Newcastle United last season, which provided valuable game experience. Now aiming to regain regular playing time, Liefting intends to reestablish her rhythm in competitive football with Ajax.
Ajax’s technical manager, Dolf Roks, commented on the acquisition: “Femke is a talented goalkeeper who has already demonstrated her quality in the Vrouwen Eredivisie. She also collected valuable experience at the highest level during her time with Chelsea, where she continued to develop. We are thrilled that she will bring both experience and quality to our squad for the upcoming season.” Liefting remains under contract with Chelsea until the summer of 2028, adding a layer of stability to Ajax’s plans as they look to reinforce their squad for the 2024-25 campaign.