Owusu-Oduro extends contract with AZ Alkmaar: “Now I’ll be goalkeeping with much more courage” | OneFootball

Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro has signed a new contract with AZ Alkmaar. The 21-year-old goalkeeper had a contract until the summer of 2028, but now he has entered into a renewed partnership until mid-2030.

Owusu-Oduro has been the first goalkeeper at AZ since last season, where he was given the chance to prove himself by coach Maarten Martens after the departure of Australian Mathew Ryan. Last campaign, the youth international played 48 official matches for AZ, who also announced on Tuesday that Ro-Zangelo Daal has been signed for a longer period too.

“It’s a great moment, not just for me, but also for the club. That we did this together again,” Owusu-Oduro, who also has his birthday on Wednesday, said on the AZ club website.

“You see the plan that AZ has: AZ has confidence in me, I have confidence in AZ. Then it’s not difficult to say ‘yes’. I’ve played at high levels, and it’s been very good to do that at a young age. For me, it’s now important to keep this season with much more experience and much more courage.”

AZ football affairs director Max Huiberts was also happy with the renewed agreement with Owusu-Oduro: “It is fantastic that a young, talented goalkeeper was given the chance to become the starting goalkeeper at ‘AZ 1’ last year. We are very happy with the fact that he sees his future at AZ.

“He is a very stable personality, a boy who remains calm in all circumstances. That is a very pleasant quality for a goalkeeper. We were not afraid to offer him the chance at this young age, and we see enormous progress. He will gain more confidence, keep more easily outside his goal area and take more initiative on the ball.”

The AZ goalkeeper was initially intended to be the first choice for Jong Oranje coach Michael Reiziger at the Under-21 European Championship in Slovakia. However, Owusu-Odoru was injured shortly before the start of the final tournament.

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield