A-League side Sydney FC and Dutch club Ajax have announced a partnership intended to bring new youth development ideas and coaching to Australian football.
The two clubs have signed a three-year deal that means Sydney will forge links with the Ajax coaching academy, with staff from the two clubs visiting and working at each other's academies.
The Dutch club are one of the most renowned in world football for their development of players, with star names including Johan Cruyff, Denis Bergkamp and Christian Eriksen emerging from their ranks.
They will help identify the most promising young players in Australia at a series of coaching sessions across the country.
"Sydney FC's academy is rapidly becoming recognised as the leading youth academy in Australia and this alignment with Ajax, who are renowned for having the world's foremost youth development strategy, will further strengthen our programme," Sydney FC CEO Danny Townsend told the club's official website.
"To have access to the knowledge and expertise of Holland's biggest club, and to be able to bring that to Australia, will provide a huge benefit to Sydney FC and football across the country."
CONFIRMED | We've agreed a three year partnership with Dutch giants @AFCAjax which will help bring some of the world's finest youth development ideas and coaching to Australia!
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) April 3, 2018
More info - https://t.co/Ytl06gJtln#SydneyIsSkyBlue #NotDoneYet pic.twitter.com/NyiKRQhys8
Edwin Van Der Sar, the former Netherlands and Manchester United goalkeeper who is now the Ajax CEO, said Sydney FC would be "a great partner" for the club.
"It is another partnership with interesting opportunities to further establish our name as the No. 1 football academy in the world," he added.
The partnership comes after Sydney FC took part in the 2018 Future Cup, which was hosted by the Ajax Academy.