Abdelhak Nouri's family, along with head of the youth academy, Saïd Ouaali, presented the award to the goalkeeper, aged just 18. Setford was born in the Dutch town of Haarlem on 11 May 2004, to a Dutch mother and English father.
The England youth international has played in goal eight times this season in the Keuken Kampioen league, and has been on the bench several times for the Ajax first team. Setford made his professional footballing debut on 20 August, 2021, when the Ajax U23 team visited FC Den Bosch (2-3).
Setford started out with the Ajax under-9s and has worked his way up bit by bit. The talented goalkeeper is heavily involved in the Ajax U23 team, and trains with the first team every week.
In winning this award, Setford joins an impressive roll call of winners. Here are some previous recipients:
2020/2021: Amourricho van Axel Dongen
2019/2020: Devyne Rensch
2018/2019: Naci Ünüvar
2017/2018: Ryan Gravenberch
2016/2017: Justin Kluivert
2015/2016: Matthijs de Ligt
2014/2015: Donny van de Beek
2013/2014: Aschraf El Mahdioui
2012/2013: Damon Mirani
2011/2012: Mickey van der Hart
2010/2011: Davy Klaassen
2009/2010: Christian Eriksen
2008/2009: Aras Özbiliz
2007/2008: Daley Blind
2006/2007: Siem de Jong
2005/2006: Donovan Slijngard
2004/2005: Murat Yildirim
2003/2004: Hedwiges Maduro
2002/2003: Kenneth Vermeer
2001/2002: Wesley Sneijder
2000/2001: John Heitinga
1999/2000: Rafael van der Vaart
