News

Why Ajax’s teenage sensation Lily Yohannes is the player to watch in the UWCL

Share

When Ajax were drawn into a Women’s Champions League group containing Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Roma, few would have predicted the side to progress to the knockout stages.

By Nancy Gillen

But Ajax are currently preparing to host Chelsea for the first leg of the quarter-finals, today, and will play the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, March 27. 

The Dutch side upset the odds to advance from a group containing European heavyweights PSG and Bayern, as well as last season’s surprise package Roma. The most notable result among Ajax’s three wins, one draw and two losses in the group stage was a 2-0 victory against PSG. 

Tiny Hoekstra and Sherida Spitse were on target against PSG at the Johan Cruyff Arena in November, but it was Lily Yohannes who caught the attention of the world. At 16-years-old, she became the youngest player to start a Women’s Champions League group stage match. 

Despite coming up against a team packed full of stars, including Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Grace Geyoro, Tabitha Chawinga and Jackie Groenen, Yohannes appeared calm and composed, contributing to Hoekstra’s goal with a wonderful defence-splitting pass from the heart of midfield. 

Her performances throughout the rest of the group stage proved crucial to Ajax’s progression to the knockouts.

Performances beyond her years

Yohannes started five of Ajax’s six group stage matches in the heart of midfield, showing off her wide range of abilities. She looked equally confident progressing the ball up the pitch as she did putting in tackles, and was particularly outstanding during Ajax’s 2-1 victory against Roma in January.

Ajax needed all three points to progress from the group stage, and Yohannes helped her team get back into the match after they fell behind in the 32nd minute. 

Just before the stroke of half-time, the teenager won the ball back in her own half, before embarking on a driving run through the middle of the pitch. Upon reaching Roma’s penalty box, she looked up and slid a pass to Hoekstra, who powered Ajax’s equaliser into the back of the net. 

Yohannes’s player of the match performance, which earned her a FotMob rating of 8.3, included a 74 percent passing accuracy. She also contributed defensively, winning 100 percent of her tackles and making 12 recoveries.

Indeed, the teenager’s ability to win duels against more experienced opponents is impressive. She won 100 percent of aerial duels and 75 percent of ground duels during Ajax’s 1-0 victory against Bayern, for example, despite being up against players such as Georgia Stanway and Sarah Zadrazil. 

Ajax’s two legs against Chelsea are set to be the biggest moments of Yohannes’s blossoming career, but so far she has shown she can more than hold her own against the greats of Europe.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes will also be forced to field a weakened team due to injuries to many of her key players, including strikers Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel. If there was ever an opportunity to deliver an upset against the current Women’s Super League champions, it would be now. 

One thing’s for sure, if Ajax do get any kind of result against Chelsea, Yohannes will likely be at the heart of it.

What’s next for Lily Yohannes?

Yohannes was born in the United States but moved to the Netherlands with her family when she was 10-years-old. She was quickly identified as a top talent by Ajax, and signed her first professional contract when she was just 15. 

Her brilliant performances in the Women’s Champions League have likely caught the attention of clubs around the world, and if she impresses again when playing against Chelsea, then it might not be too long before Yohannes is picked up by a top team. With her contract with Ajax running out in 2026, some clubs may even splash the cash next season to secure her signature.

Yohannes also faces an intriguing decision to make on the international stage. She has represented the US at the under-15 and under-16 levels, but has not been invited to a national team camp since 2022. 

Having lived in the Netherlands for more than six years, Yohannes is now eligible to apply for a Dutch passport. She attended an under-19 camp with the Netherlands in December, suggesting she is open to representing the country where she currently lives. 

Whatever national team she decides to play for, there is no doubt that Yohannes is set to have a highly successful career both on the domestic and international stage. 

Her performances in the Women’s Champions League have propelled her into the spotlight, and it looks like the teenage superstar is only going to get better.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Women’s Champions League game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including player ratings. Download the free app here.

Why Ajax’s teenage sensation Lily Yohannes is the player to watch in the UWCL

When Ajax were drawn into a Women’s Champions League group containing Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Roma, few would have predicted the side to progress to the knockout stages.

By Nancy Gillen

But Ajax are currently preparing to host Chelsea for the first leg of the quarter-finals, today, and will play the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, March 27. 

The Dutch side upset the odds to advance from a group containing European heavyweights PSG and Bayern, as well as last season’s surprise package Roma. The most notable result among Ajax’s three wins, one draw and two losses in the group stage was a 2-0 victory against PSG. 

Tiny Hoekstra and Sherida Spitse were on target against PSG at the Johan Cruyff Arena in November, but it was Lily Yohannes who caught the attention of the world. At 16-years-old, she became the youngest player to start a Women’s Champions League group stage match. 

Despite coming up against a team packed full of stars, including Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Grace Geyoro, Tabitha Chawinga and Jackie Groenen, Yohannes appeared calm and composed, contributing to Hoekstra’s goal with a wonderful defence-splitting pass from the heart of midfield. 

Her performances throughout the rest of the group stage proved crucial to Ajax’s progression to the knockouts.

Performances beyond her years

Yohannes started five of Ajax’s six group stage matches in the heart of midfield, showing off her wide range of abilities. She looked equally confident progressing the ball up the pitch as she did putting in tackles, and was particularly outstanding during Ajax’s 2-1 victory against Roma in January.

Ajax needed all three points to progress from the group stage, and Yohannes helped her team get back into the match after they fell behind in the 32nd minute. 

Just before the stroke of half-time, the teenager won the ball back in her own half, before embarking on a driving run through the middle of the pitch. Upon reaching Roma’s penalty box, she looked up and slid a pass to Hoekstra, who powered Ajax’s equaliser into the back of the net. 

Yohannes’s player of the match performance, which earned her a FotMob rating of 8.3, included a 74 percent passing accuracy. She also contributed defensively, winning 100 percent of her tackles and making 12 recoveries.

Indeed, the teenager’s ability to win duels against more experienced opponents is impressive. She won 100 percent of aerial duels and 75 percent of ground duels during Ajax’s 1-0 victory against Bayern, for example, despite being up against players such as Georgia Stanway and Sarah Zadrazil. 

Ajax’s two legs against Chelsea are set to be the biggest moments of Yohannes’s blossoming career, but so far she has shown she can more than hold her own against the greats of Europe.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes will also be forced to field a weakened team due to injuries to many of her key players, including strikers Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel. If there was ever an opportunity to deliver an upset against the current Women’s Super League champions, it would be now. 

One thing’s for sure, if Ajax do get any kind of result against Chelsea, Yohannes will likely be at the heart of it.

What’s next for Lily Yohannes?

Yohannes was born in the United States but moved to the Netherlands with her family when she was 10-years-old. She was quickly identified as a top talent by Ajax, and signed her first professional contract when she was just 15. 

Her brilliant performances in the Women’s Champions League have likely caught the attention of clubs around the world, and if she impresses again when playing against Chelsea, then it might not be too long before Yohannes is picked up by a top team. With her contract with Ajax running out in 2026, some clubs may even splash the cash next season to secure her signature.

Yohannes also faces an intriguing decision to make on the international stage. She has represented the US at the under-15 and under-16 levels, but has not been invited to a national team camp since 2022. 

Having lived in the Netherlands for more than six years, Yohannes is now eligible to apply for a Dutch passport. She attended an under-19 camp with the Netherlands in December, suggesting she is open to representing the country where she currently lives. 

Whatever national team she decides to play for, there is no doubt that Yohannes is set to have a highly successful career both on the domestic and international stage. 

Her performances in the Women’s Champions League have propelled her into the spotlight, and it looks like the teenage superstar is only going to get better.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Women’s Champions League game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including player ratings. Download the free app here.