Simon Adingra still sidelined with Ajax, 17 days after his arrival

Simon Adingra had to wait once again on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The Ivorian international winger did not participate in Ajax Amsterdam’s 2-2 draw against Excelsior, seventeen days after joining on loan from Sunderland. The day before the match, coach Míchel Sánchez confirmed that the 24-year-old remained unavailable due to physical issues.

The delay in his debut is linked to a minor ankle injury he sustained prior to arriving in Amsterdam. During his presentation on September 2, Adingra explained to Ajax TV that he would need another two to three weeks to regain sufficient fitness. His absence against Excelsior comes as this initial estimate approaches its upper limit, with no specific return date announced.

Ajax now aims to take advantage of the international break following this Eredivisie matchday to recover several unavailable players. Míchel Sánchez indicated on Friday that this extended break should provide recovery time for some members of his squad. Simon Adingra is among the players the club is still awaiting to return to full availability.

Signed on September 2, the Ivorian is on loan to Ajax from Sunderland for the remainder of the 2026-2027 season. The agreement includes a purchase option. The Dutch club had highlighted his profile of dribbling, speed, and depth as one of the reinforcements intended to bolster their attacking line following the departure of Mika Godts.

First minutes still awaited

Adingra arrives in Amsterdam with significant experience across several European leagues. Having played for FC Nordsjaelland and Union Saint-Gilloise, he appeared in 73 matches with Brighton before his transfer to Sunderland, and he concluded the previous season on loan at AS Monaco.

So far, this experience has yet to translate into on-field action with Ajax. As of the evening of September 19, the club’s official record still shows zero Eredivisie matches played by Simon Adingra since the start of the 2026-2027 season.