Who is David Neres? The Ajax star wanted by Liverpool and Leicester

Nicholas Hughes

• Updated: 1 Nov 2021 13:33 GMT
• 9 min read

David Neres, like so many that have come out of the Ajax academy before him, has risen to prominence in the last few years in the Netherlands.

After a string of impressive performances for the Dutch side, Neres has found himself on the radar of some of Europe’s top clubs.

Now a fully fledged member of the senior side and with multiple caps for Brazil under his belt, Neres’ reputation is only continuing to grow.

Neres is moving into his sixth season with the Eredivisie outfit, but his time could be coming to an end soon with interest growing.

What position does David Neres play in?

Neres plays predominantly as a right-winger, with the ability to cut in on his left foot.

How good is David Neres?

Neres took no time at all to show his quality when afforded the opportunity in Ajax’s senior team, debuting as a teenager.

The Brazilian is a modern winger in that he is adept at all parts of the attacking game, with technical ability, vision and flair alongside his knack for scoring goals and assisting his teammates.

In just his second season at Ajax, Neres recorded 14 goals and 12 assists in 32 games, a season which he started as just a 20-year-old.

Neres’ strongest ability is his skill and command over a football. In typical Brazilian fashion, his flair on the ball is a joy to watch.

He is able to glide past defenders with precise dribbling and a quick burst of pace, with a dazzling array of skills at his disposal to beat opponents and carve out chances for himself and his teammates.

Consistent goal and assist numbers in Eredivisie have accompanied his ability on the ball, with 34 goals and 28 assists in his first five full league campaigns in the Netherlands.

Neres was particularly instrumental in Ajax’s outstanding 2018-19 Champions League campaign that saw them minutes away from the final in Madrid.

Erik Ten Hag’s side had to go through the qualification stages but went on an historic run, with Neres playing a major part, scoring against Real Madrid in the Round of 16 and again against Juventus in the quarter-finals.

His performances have also earned him seven appearances for the Brazil national team, including two at the 2019 Copa America, from which he collected a winner’s medal.

Which clubs are interested in David Neres?

Neres has been widely touted by much of the Premier League, but 2019-20 champions Liverpool have been most heavily linked with the Brazilian of late.

After having pushed for a move in the summer of 2021, Neres has had to bide his time to move to one of Europe’s top leagues.

Alongside Liverpool, Leicester City have been strongly linked while Atletico Madrid and Sevilla were also believed to be keen.

Manchester United and Chelsea were both linked with Neres back in 2019 in the wake of that magical Champions League campaign.

When does David Neres’ contract expire?

Neres’ contract is nearing its end, with a long-term deal signed in 2019 set to expire on June 30, 2023. Neres is believed to be earning more than €55,000 per week at Ajax currently.

How old is David Neres?

Neres was born on March 3 1997, making him 24 years old.

What is David Neres’ height?

Neres is measured at 177cm tall, or five-feet-eight-inches.

What is David Neres’ weight?

Neres is believed to weigh around 74kg.

What football boots does David Neres wear?

Neres wears Adidas football boots, choosing the Adidas X Speedflow.1 cleats on matchday.

What is David Neres’ Instagram?

Neres has 1.9 million followers on his Instagram account, as of November 2021.

Who is David Neres’ girlfriend?

Neres is dating German model Kira Winona. The pair have been dating over three years and have a daughter together.