Anton Gaaei
Anton Gaaei is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for club Ajax and the Denmark national team.
Club career
Viborg FF
Anton Gaaei started his career in Bruunshåb/Tapdrup IF and then passed by Overlund GF, before he moved to Viborg. From the summer 2020, Gaaei began training regular with the first team. On 2 September 2020, Gaaei got his official debut for Viborg, as he came on from the bench in the 76th minute against FC Fredericia in the Danish Cup. Three months later, in December 2020, Gaaei signed a new deal with Viborg until June 2023.In his youth, Gaaei was primarily a winger, but was later converted to right-back. On 1 April 2022, Gaaei got his league debut for Viborg and Danish Superliga debut in a game an against SønderjyskE. Gaaei ended the 2021–22 season with six league appearances. He became a regular starter in the 2022–23 season, making 37 appearances across all competitions.
Ajax
On 17 August 2023, Gaaei officially joined Eredivisie side Ajax for a reported fee of DKr35 million, signing a five-year contract with the Dutch club. In the process, he broke the transfer record as Viborg's highest-grossing sale.Gaaei made his competitive debut for the club on 3 September 2023, replacing Devyne Rensch in the 62nd minute of a 0–0 away league draw against Fortuna Sittard. He faced criticism for his early performances, with analysts highlighting defensive frailties. In De Klassieker against Feyenoord on 24 September, Gaaei started but made two errors leading to goals and was substituted after only 32 minutes. On 25 February 2024, in a match against AZ, Gaaei was again substituted in the first half. Despite these difficulties, he scored his first goal for the club with a volley against Go Ahead Eagles in April 2024, which won the club's Goal of the Month award. He finished his debut season with 34 first-team appearances across all competitions, while also featuring 8 times for Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie.
Gaaei began the 2024–25 season positively by scoring the decisive penalty in the record-breaking 34-penalty shootout against Panathinaikos in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round on 15 August 2024. Under new manager Francesco Farioli, Gaaei established himself as a regular part of the first-team squad, competing for the starting right-back position and making frequent appearances. He scored his first two Eredivisie goals for Ajax during the season, netting twice by mid-March 2025. He also provided a key assist during De Klassieker against Feyenoord on 2 February 2025, contributing to Ajax's 2–1 victory.