Burnley’s pre-season campaign suffered its third setback with a 2-1 friendly defeat to Ajax in Amsterdam on 26 July 2026, but Nicky Hayen’s side left plenty to build on.
What happened in Amsterdam?
Jaydon Banel pulled one back for Burnley after a lively first half, though the Clarets fell short against a stronger Ajax side. The Dutch outfit opened the scoring before Banel’s clever finish restored parity, only for a late winner to seal the win. Burnley’s display carried energy in patches, particularly in the opening 45 minutes, but defensive lapses cost them dearly.
Who stood out for Burnley?
Connor Roberts led the charge at right-back, mirroring the attacking instincts shown under Vincent Kompany. His 7/10 rating reflected a willingness to overlap and exploit space, a trait Burnley will need more of as pre-season continues. Aaron Ramsey, operating in the number 10 role, also impressed early, creating danger and dictating tempo before a wasteful finish from Hannibal underlined the need for sharper finishing.
Defensively, Kyle Walker and Bashir Humphreys marshalled the backline with composure, though Walker’s willingness to step out of defence added another dimension to Burnley’s buildup. Max Weiss, though, will rue a poor error that gifted Ajax their opener, while Lucas Pires struggled to recover after being caught out early.
Where did Burnley go wrong?
The first Ajax goal stemmed from a sloppy mistake by Weiss, while Pires was too slow to track back for the third. Josh Laurent’s midfield work showed flashes but his passing lacked precision, and Jacob Bruun Larsen’s inclusion raised eyebrows amid ongoing Copenhagen speculation. Mike Tresor, introduced at half-time, nearly made an instant impact with a curling free-kick that rattled the crossbar.
What’s next for Burnley?
With the Premier League season still months away, these friendlies serve as a chance to bed in new signings and fine-tune tactics. Burnley sit 19th in the Premier League final 2025 table with 22 points from 38 games, 63 points behind Arsenal, and their last result was a 1-1 draw with Wolves on 24 May 2026. Recent form stands at 0 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss in their last five outings, so Hayen will hope these lessons translate into sharper performances as the campaign edges closer.
