Kian Franklin Fitz-Jim (born 5 July 2003) is a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for Eredivisie club Ajax.

Kian Fitz-Jim
Fitz-Jim in 2024 with Ajax
Personal information
Full name Kian Franklin Fitz-Jim[1]
Date of birth (2003-07-05) 5 July 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Ajax
Number 28
Youth career
2011–2013 Buitenveldert
2013–2015 AFC
2015–2019 AZ Alkmaar
2019–2020 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2024 Jong Ajax 102 (5)
2023– Ajax 12 (1)
2023–2024Excelsior (loan) 10 (0)
International career
2017–2018 Netherlands U15 5 (1)
2018–2019 Netherlands U16 2 (0)
2019 Netherlands U17 4 (0)
2021 Netherlands U19 6 (0)
2023– Netherlands U20 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 March 2023

Club career

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Ajax

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On 18 June 2019, Fitz-Jim signed with AFC Ajax.[3] he made his professional debut with Jong Ajax in a 2–1 Eerste Divisie loss to SC Telstar on 21 December 2020.[4]

He made his senior team debut in a friendly against FC Utrecht on 24 March 2021.[5][6]

Loan to Excelsior

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In August 2023, Fitz-Jim extended his contract with Ajax until 2027, and was sent on loan to Eredivisie side Excelsior for the 2023–24 season.[7] On 11 January 2024, the loan was terminated early.[8]

International career

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Fitz-Jim is a youth international for the Netherlands.[3] He is also eligible to represent Hong Kong and Suriname through his parents.[9] In 2023, the then Hong Kong national team manager Jørn Andersen expressed interest in selecting him to represent Hong Kong.[10]

Personal life

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Fitz-Jim was born in the Netherlands, his father, also born in the Netherlands, is of Surinamese and Chinese descent.[11] His mother is from Hong Kong and emigrated to the Netherlands in childhood.[12] Fitz-Jim has never been to Suriname but has often visited Hong Kong.[13] He also holds Hong Kong identity card and speaks Cantonese.[14]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 10 November 2024[15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jong Ajax 2020–21 Eerste Divisie 21 1 21 1
2021–22 Eerste Divisie 34 0 34 0
2022–23 Eerste Divisie 30 3 30 3
2023–24 Eerste Divisie 17 1 17 1
Total 102 5 102 5
Ajax 2022–23 Eredivisie 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2023–24 Eredivisie 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2024–25 Eredivisie 6 0 0 0 8[a] 2 14 2
Total 10 0 2 0 8 2 0 0 20 2
Excelsior (loan) 2023–24 Eredivisie 12 1 2 0 14 1
Career total 124 6 4 0 8 2 0 0 136 8
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

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  1. ^ "UEFA Europa League 2024/2025: Booking List before League Phase Matchday 4" (PDF). UEFA. 1 November 2021. p. 4. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Kian Fitz-Jim". AFC Ajax. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Kian Fitz-Jim mag zich officieel Ajacied noemen". www.ajaxshowtime.com.
  4. ^ "Ajax II vs. Telstar – 21 December 2020". Soccerway.
  5. ^ "Ajax zet FC Utrecht in besloten oefenduel opzij | Ajax Showtime". www.ajaxshowtime.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Keeper De Keijzer maakt rentree in oefenpartij tegen Ajax". FC Utrecht. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Contract extension and loan Kian Fitz-Jim". Ajax. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Kian Fitz-Jim returns to Ajax". Ajax. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  9. ^ "足球|華裔荷甲小將返港惹討論 菲慈佔天樂稱暫仍望為荷蘭上陣". Yahoo Sports (in Chinese). 29 May 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  10. ^ 顏銘輝 (27 September 2024). "歐霸|華裔小將建功助阿積士大勝 菲慈佔天樂母親為香港人". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Fitz-Jim krijgt opmerkingen over haardos: 'Dat moeten ze vooral doen'". Ajax Showtime (in Dutch). 17 February 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  12. ^ "荷甲|華裔小將菲慈佔天樂首為阿積士上陣 有香港身分證獲港足主帥關注 (18:01) - 20230109 - 體育". 明報新聞網 - 即時新聞 instant news (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  13. ^ "專訪港足新帥安達臣1︱ 前德甲神射手 誓重建港隊:沒戴偉浚也可". 香港01 (in Traditional Chinese). 14 June 2022.
  14. ^ "歐霸│阿積士4:0比錫達斯 持香港身份證小將菲慈佔天樂入波 今季已成主力". Sing Tao (in Traditional Chinese). 27 September 2024.
  15. ^ Kian Fitz-Jim at Soccerway
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