Josip Šutalo, born 28 February 2000 (age 26), is a Croatian central defender whose senior career has moved from development football into a settled role at Ajax.
His early loan football gave him the necessary miles before he established himself at Dinamo Zagreb. The 2022-2023 league season was his most productive there, with two goals in 27 appearances, and it helped push him beyond the category of promising centre-half into something more dependable.
Ajax has since become the main body of his career. Across four seasons he has made 76 league appearances and scored three league goals, with the Amsterdam spell giving him the regular platform his earlier years had been building towards. His current market value is around £20.5m, according to Transfermarkt.
In 2025-2026 he has remained a regular first-team presence, making 31 appearances in all competitions for Ajax, including 24 in the Eredivisie and six in the Champions League. He has not scored for the club this season, but his place in the side has been steady enough. He has also continued to feature for Croatia, with one World Cup appearance and five European qualifying appearances.
Šutalo’s career is now centred on Ajax, after a more gradual route through Croatian football and early loan experience. He remains an established defender for club and country rather than a finished story.
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