Ajax Secures Promising Talent Paulo Da Silva

Ajax is poised to enhance its squad in the near future by acquiring Paulo Da Silva, triumphing over competitors such as Feyenoord, as reported by De Telegraaf on Wednesday. The 18-year-old talent is transferring from NEC, where he consistently scored goals. SoccerNews provides an overview of the young Dutch player with Portuguese roots.

**Profile of Paulo Da Silva (18): Rising Star Chooses Ajax Over Feyenoord**

Born on December 26, 2007, in Tilburg, Paulo Da Silva is the son of Portuguese parents. He began his football journey at KFC Turnhout, a Belgian club located just across the border from Tilburg, where his father Fernando serves as the coach. His brother, Eric Da Silva, who is now a well-known content creator, also played at KFC Turnhout. When Eric was scouted by FC Dordrecht, it became more practical for Paulo to remain in Tilburg. During his time at Turnhout, he remarkably netted over a hundred goals in a single season.

**Impressing Under Dick Schreuder’s Guidance**

In the summer of 2024, Da Silva transitioned from Willem II to the youth academy at NEC. He immediately caught the attention of coaches in the Nijmegen youth squad, and within a year, he began training regularly with the first team under Dick Schreuder. Da Silva impressed with his scoring ability, demonstrating that he could perform well beyond youth levels. His father, Fernando, recalls a moment before a training session when Schreuder encouraged him to showcase his talent. “He is truly fearless. They wanted to see who he really is,” Fernando remarked. “Just guess what he did. He scored from midfield in a match simulation that went over Jasper Cillessen.”

**A Lifelong Ajax Supporter**

It is now almost certain that Da Silva will make the move from NEC to Ajax. A lifelong supporter of the club, he is on the verge of realizing his dream to play in Amsterdam. As he was not under contract in Nijmegen, Ajax will only need to pay a training compensation fee. According to De Telegraaf, the intention is for Da Silva to sign a three-year contract and join Jong Ajax. The formal agreements between the young talent and Ajax will be finalized in the near future.