Ajax or Harvard? Renée van Asten is the Netherlands’ next name to watch

The Netherlands has produced some of the world’s finest footballers — Vivianne Miedema, Kerstin Casparij... and the honorable mention is of course coach legends Sarina Wiegman and Renée Slegers, to name just a few. European champions in 2017, their legacy is undeniable. And their future looks to be in safe hands.

When head coach Arjan Veurink announced his squad on March 31, 2026 for the upcoming double-header against France, two new names stood out: Liz Rijsbergen and Renée van Asten. The latter is just 19 years old but such an early call-up already suggests she is one to watch.

An immediate impact

And she made an immediate impact. On her debut, van Asten opened the scoring against favourites France in the 11th minute, in front of a home crowd, setting the tone for a confident Dutch performance that ultimately led to victory — and a measure of revenge for their defeat at Euro 2025.

It didn’t end there. The 19-year-old was named Player of the Match. So, to sum it up: a senior debut, a starting spot, a goal, and an individual award. A fairytale debut by any measure — and a clear message to Veurink that she belongs in the squad moving forward.

Despite being a centre-back, van Asten had already shown her eye for goal before the international break. She scored for Ajax in a crucial match against league leaders PSV, helping her side secure valuable points in the race for European qualification.

Ajax had already booked their place in the Europa Cup this season and van Asten played her part there too, scoring in the final round of qualification against Grasshopper. All the more impressive given that this is her first season with the senior team, where she has quickly established herself as a regular starter, earning the trust of coaches, teammates, and fans alike.

Harvard or Ajax?

But her path could have looked very different. Before the start of the season, van Asten faced a major decision. Thanks to both her footballing and academic achievements, she received an offer from Harvard- an opportunity few would turn down. Yet she chose to stay in Amsterdam.

According to her, football brings her greater fulfilment than academics. Turning down Harvard wasn’t easy, but it felt like the right decision. And so far, it’s proving to be exactly that.

Her connection to Ajax, and her family backround, also played a role. The youngest of five siblings, she was introduced to football by her two older brothers. Interestingly, she didn’t start in boys’ teams, but joined a girls’ side from the very beginning - something that wasn’t always possible for previous generations, and a sign of how the game is evolving.

Her talent had already been recognised early on. In 2021, she joined Ajax’s academy, one of the strongest in the Netherlands. She progressed through the U16 and U19 teams, winning two youth titles along the way. Even a setback through injury didn’t slow her down. She returned just as strong.

And while she turned down Harvard, she hasn’t abandoned her education. She is currently studying criminology at one of the Amstrdam's university, successfully balancing her studies with life as a professional footballer.

Remember the name. Despite the absence of established stars like Miedema or Casparij, van Asten played a key role in the Netherlands’ victory over France, it certainly won’t be the last time we see her in the Oranje shirt.