Former Alabama soccer standout and current Dutch National Team player Merel van Dongen signed a contract with Amsterdam club Ajax, the club announced Wednesday. With the signing, van Dongen is set to begin training with Ajax immediately.

“We are extremely proud that Merel has signed a contract with one of the biggest clubs in Europe,” said Alabama head soccer coach Todd Bramble. “While she excelled in the college game and the classroom here, she always took a very professional approach to soccer. She is certainly ready to attack this next phase of her career and we look forward to cheering her on.”

Van Dongen was one of the top contributors during the 2014 season and throughout her career at the Capstone. In her senior campaign, the midfielder started 19 matches and was one of the top players for minutes played the season’s conclusion. She also assisted on 10 separate goals, ranking her as the Alabama all-time leader for assists in a season. For the year, van Dongen contributed 16 total points thanks to three goals in addition to her 10 helpers. The conference recognized her efforts, naming the senior to its All-Conference Second Team at season’s end.

In the classroom, van Dongen maintained a 4.0 grade point average while being named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll three separate times during her time in Tuscaloosa. In recognition of her academic prowess, she was named a first team CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-American, making her just the second Alabama soccer player to ever earn the honor in the program’s history.

The senior midfielder helped Alabama reach the postseason for the first time since 2011 and claim a winning record in Southeastern Conference action for the first time since 1998.

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