Brighton welcome Dutch giants Ajax to the Amex Stadium as they continue their hunt for their first European victory and Joel Veltman has looked ahead to the clash with his former club

Joel Veltman will be reunited with Ajax on Thursday evening Joel Veltman has been counting down his sleeps like a kid before Christmas as Brighton aim to unwrap what would be an historic success against former club Ajax.

The Dutch defender can't wait for the Seagulls' latest Europa League outing, a glamour tie against his boyhood club who are in the midst of one of the worst struggles in their history.

The excitement around East Sussex is palpable, and nowhere more so than in the Veltman household. The defender has not played against his former employers since the Seagulls activated his bargain PS900,000 release clause in 2020 and his upcoming reunion is an occasion that has been keeping the Ajax academy graduate up at night.

"It's a special feeling," he told Mirror Football. "I don't know what it is. The last couple of nights before I go to sleep, it's coming closer and closer.

The match will see Veltman - who made 246 appearances for Ajax and won three Dutch titles - reunited with an array of familiar faces. "Of course I'm looking forward to that - more staff than players to be honest because lots of players left when I was there," he said.

"Especially staff like kitmen, people who are volunteering to do everything at the club at De Toekomst [Ajax's training ground]. I will see them again and that is special."

Joel Veltman is a product of the famed Ajax academy ( Image:

While the 31-year-old is ticking off the days until he can finally line up against his former employers, the match brings with it somewhat of a bitter taste. Ajax have endured a horrendous start to the new campaign both on and off the pitch.

They sit in the Eredivisie relegation zone after a 4-3 defeat to Utrecht - already the side's fourth loss of the campaign. Police also clashed with fans during the abandoned De Klassieker defeat to fierce rivals Feyenoord earlier this season. The match was initially abandoned in the 56th minute with Ajax 3-0 down and resumed a few days later, only for Feyenoord to add further embarrassment with another goal.

Chaos has reigned practically since the season kicked off. Former CEO Edwin van der Sar left in the summer, while director of football Sven Mislintat was sacked in September. Manager Maurice Steijn - appointed in the summer on a three-year deal - has also already been disposed of.

Ajax have endured a shocking start to the season ( Image:

"You want to see your club in the top league and doing well and get great results. They can't and especially off the pitch - on the pitch is not good as well - especially what's happening off the pitch, they're struggling. Some directors left and everything.

"But from now on, it will be better. They will have to make decisions, who will stay there, who will go. But from now on, I think it will go better."

Joel Veltman has been full of praise for Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi ( Image:

"I don't know which job specifically it will be. Maybe I will stay here as well. It's difficult to say. It is an option, yes, and I will like that. But if I can retire here [at Brighton] and do a job here, I am happy to do that as well. I keep my options open. But Amsterdam is special."

For the time being at the very least, Veltman is concentrating on his job with Brighton. He could have left the club in the summer but eventually decided to sign a new three-year contract.

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TNT Sports Explaining the decision to extend his stay, the defender said: "It was especially because I was happy here, family was happy here which was really important for me. And we're playing a European season at Brighton and I want to be a part of that. Simple as that."

Since then, Veltman has continued to be a trusted custodian for Seagulls boss De Zerbi. He is one of the Italian's most-used players during his year with Brighton.

Those 12 months have coincided with a transformative period in the club's history - their first qualification for a European competition among the highlights. Speaking of his manager, Veltman said: "How we play, the gaffer said it sometimes: 'I'd rather lose a game 4-0 with our tactics than like winning a game with s****y tactics and win 2-1.' He just loves the way we play. We all do and that's why we can pick up good results against bigger teams."

Veltman and Brighton will be aiming to prove those credentials once more as Ajax come to town. He will be hoping to unwrap the present of a first-ever European win for the Seagulls as his 'Christmas Day' edges ever closer.