AZ Alkmaar's sporting director, Max Huiberts, has confirmed that Dutch-born Ghanaian goalkeeper, Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro, will be the team's first choice goalkeeper for the upcoming season.
This announcement comes amidst speculation about Owusu-Oduro's future with the club following the arrival of experienced goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet from Spezia Calcio.
Owusu-Oduro, who started his football journey at DVC Buiksloot, joined the AZ Alkmaar academy at the under-12 level. He signed his first professional contract with the club on 2 October 2020. The 20-year-old goalkeeper made his Eerste Divisie debut against FC Eindhoven on 26 August 2022 and his first team debut in a UEFA Europa Conference League match against Legia Warsaw on 14 December 2023.
Huiberts expressed his confidence in Owusu-Oduro, stating that the young goalkeeper will be given the opportunity to shine as the first choice goalkeeper following the departure of Maty Ryan.
“Jeroen's experience is one of the reasons,” says Director of Football Affairs Max Huiberts about the recruitment of Zoet, who has played almost four hundred matches in professional football.
“Maarten Martens expressed last week what the goalkeeping situation is like. After Maty's departure, Rome-Jayden gets the chance as the first goalkeeper. We have a lot of confidence in each other about that. It is nice to have Jeroen behind it, a goalkeeper who has already experienced everything in his career. At the age of 33, he is still very fit and would like to be of value in the role as discussed. Jeroen is on the field every day to improve and he is eager to pursue his ambitions. In his role he will keep the competition sharp and try to make each other stronger,” he added.