Ajax’s 24/25 campaign steadied the ship after a chaotic year prior, and the early weeks of 25/26 have looked more cohesive and purposeful. EA clearly noticed. The new FC 26 database hands sizeable upgrades to a clutch of academy-bred and breakout pieces, while trimming a couple of established names. The end result: a livelier, faster Ajax squad that looks much closer to the way the team is actually playing.

Biggest climbs year over year

Baas rockets +8, Taylor hits 78: Ajax’s FC 26 ratings are a youth-driven jump - EA FC 26 - FUTFC

Youri Baas 67 → 75 (+8)
The biggest riser in the squad. EA boosts Baas across the board, reflecting his growth as a defender who can step out at LB or tuck in at CB. DEF and PHY both get meaningful respect, and his card finally looks starter-ready.
Raúl Moro 71 → 76 (+5)
A huge vote of confidence in his directness and end product. Pace and dribbling pop, making him a live-wire option on either wing.
Mika Godts 69 → 74 (+5)
Another winger accelerator. Close control and agility are the story here, with big bumps to DRI and PAC.
Anton Gaaei 67 → 72 (+5)
That 81 PAC at RB changes how Ajax can defend the touchline and spring transitions.
Kenneth Taylor 74 → 78 (+4)
Taylor’s all-round profile got a proper glow-up: SHO, PAS and DRI are all balanced at a high level, turning him into an instant meta CM/CAM for hybrid builds.
Oliver Edvardsen 69 → 73 (+4) and Kian Fitz-Jim 69 → 73 (+4)
Useful, well-earned steps that deepen the rotation with energetic, technical mids and wide options.
Other upticks
Remko Pasveer 72 → 75 (+3), Vítězslav Jaroš 68 → 70 (+2), and +1s for Wout Weghorst (77 → 78), Josip Šutalo (77 → 78), Ko Itakura (76 → 77), Davy Klaassen (76 → 77), Lucas Rosa (70 → 71).

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Taylor takes the keys in midfield

Kenneth Taylor’s jump to 78 is the headline. The blend is striking: 77 SHO, 78 PAS, 78 DRI with 73 PAC and 74 PHY. In Ultimate Team terms he finally looks like what Ajax lean on him to be in real life: a confident, progressive on-ball hub who can arrive in the box. He’s now level with Berghuis and Weghorst as the squad’s highest-rated outfielders, which says a lot about how EA views Ajax’s midfield evolution.

Tougher calls: the biggest drops

Branco van den Boomen 76 → 73 (−3)
The sharpest downgrade. Passing remains his calling card, but a three-point trim suggests EA wanted to separate his set-piece quality from week-to-week athletic impact.
Steven Berghuis 79 → 78 (−1)
Still top-tier technically, but a tiny correction as younger legs around him surge.
Owen Wijndal 73 → 72 (−1)
A marginal dip that mirrors competition at left-back.

Van den Boomen feels the squeeze

A −3 for van den Boomen is the most notable haircut. He’s still tidy on the ball with an 81 PAS, but the overall drop pushes him behind Taylor and closer to the pack of rotational mids. In squad-building terms, he shifts from automatic starter to role specialist.

New faces in FC 26 and how EA graded them

Kasper Dolberg (77 ST)
Drops straight in as a high-floor finisher with 80 SHO and a Lengthy build. He profiles as the cleanest alternative to Weghorst for those who prefer mobility over sheer aerial battering ram vibes.
Jorthy Mokio (70 CDM/CM/LB/CB)
A versatile destroyer profile at 18 with balanced DEF/PHY and promising DRI for press resistance.
Academy and depth adds
Aaron Bouwman (64 CB), Joeri Heerkens (64 GK), Don-Angelo Konadu (63 ST), Rayane Bounida (63 LW/CAM), Sean Steur (62 CM/CDM), Lucas Jetten (62 LB/LM). EA plants them in silver/low-silver territory but with standout traits: Bounida’s 4★/4★, Jetten’s 84 PAC, Konadu’s frame and straight-line speed.

Surprise ratings that will spark debate

Baas at 75 feels aggressive, but the eye test says he’s earned it. The +8 is huge, yet his 76 DEF and 71 PHY justify a meaningful first-team role.
Weghorst capped at 78 despite being Ajax’s focal point will irk some. Still, 87 PHY and 78 SHO with the Lengthy archetype scream target man meta.
Šutalo’s 77 PAC at CB is a quietly massive win for gameplay. A 78 overall with 80 PHY gives Ajax an anchor who can actually live on the halfway line.
Berghuis trimming to 78 despite elite PAS (82) may feel cautious, but it nudges the hierarchy toward Taylor and the kids.
Gaaei 72 with 81 PAC looks like one of the best value Eredivisie right-backs early game.

Full FC 26 list

78 Kenneth Taylor (CM/CAM)
78 Steven Berghuis (RW/CAM/RM)
78 Wout Weghorst (ST)
78 Josip Šutalo (CB)
77 Ko Itakura (CB/CDM)
77 Davy Klaassen (CM/CDM)
77 Kasper Dolberg (ST)
76 Oscar Gloukh (CAM/LW/CM)
76 Raúl Moro (LW/RW/LM)
75 Remko Pasveer (GK)
75 Youri Baas (CB/LB)
74 Mika Godts (LW/LM)
73 Oliver Edvardsen (LW/RW/LM)
73 Youri Regeer (CM/RB/CDM)
73 Kian Fitz-Jim (CM/CDM)
73 Branco van den Boomen (CM/CDM)
72 Anton Gaaei (RB/RM)
72 Owen Wijndal (LB/LM)
71 Lucas Rosa (RB/LB/RM)
70 Jorthy Mokio (CDM/CM/LB/CB)
70 Vítězslav Jaroš (GK)
64 Aaron Bouwman (CB)
64 Joeri Heerkens (GK)
63 Don-Angelo Konadu (ST)
63 Rayane Bounida (LW/CAM/LM)
62 Sean Steur (CM/CDM)
62 Lucas Jetten (LB/LM)

FAQ

Why did Kenneth Taylor jump all the way to 78?

Because his all-round game exploded. EA boosted shooting, passing and dribbling, turning him from a tidy CM into a genuine attacking threat who can run a game.

Is Youri Baas really an every-week starter at 75?

That +8 reflects rapid development and positional flexibility. In-game, he’s now good enough to start at LB or as a ball-winning CB in a high line.

Did EA underrate Wout Weghorst?

You could argue 78 is conservative, but 87 PHY and 78 SHO with a 197 cm frame and Lengthy playstyle make him extremely effective in FC gameplay terms.

What happened to Branco van den Boomen’s rating?

A −3 suggests EA valued his set-piece and passing quality but shaved his overall to reflect athletic limitations versus Ajax’s increasingly high-tempo core.