Ajax striker Brian Brobbey was the target of an extensive and violent extortion attempt, which included arson, explosions, and a shooting, according to an investigation. The threats began in late 2022 when a notorious Amsterdam criminal, Jeymon A., allegedly approached Brobbey, claiming to have “solved a problem” and demanding €150,000.

When Brobbey refused to pay, a series of attacks ensued. In January 2023, fireworks were pushed through the letterbox of his mother-in-law’s home. Then, in March, an explosive was detonated near Brobbey’s car. The violence escalated in April when his sister-in-law’s car was set on fire.

The culmination of these attacks occurred in July when a close friend of Brobbey’s, who tried to intervene on his behalf, was shot and seriously wounded during a confrontation with Jeymon A. Brobbey did not report the threats to Ajax until after the shooting incident. Club management became fully aware of the situation when police seized his phone during an unrelated investigation.

Brobbey chose not to press charges, fearing it would worsen the situation. Ajax officials, including then-director Jan van Halst and coach Maurice Steijn, offered support, but Brobbey insisted on handling the matter privately. Some within the club now question whether Ajax should have intervened more forcefully.

Prosecutors did not include the extortion in the formal case against Jeymon A., who was sentenced in November 2024 to 10 years in prison for the attempted murder of Brobbey’s friend, firearms offences, and drug trafficking. The police found no evidence that Brobbey paid the demanded sum.

The turmoil affected Brobbey’s performance on the pitch, with his league goals dropping to four in the 2024-2025 season. He has since expressed a desire to leave Ajax this summer.

Ajax’s current management, including technical director Alex Kroes, only learned the full details of the case shortly before the article’s publication in November 2024. Such knowledge could have influenced the club’s decisions on the player’s future, given interest from clubs such as West Ham United. Brobbey’s lawyer stated that his client did not wish to cooperate with the reporting. Ajax declined to comment on players’ private affairs, while lawyers for Jeymon A. claim there is no evidence of their client’s involvement in the extortion.