Mark Verkuijl speaks on personal loss following partner's death

Jong Ajax midfielder Mark Verkuijl has spoken candidly about his ongoing struggle to cope following the death of his partner, Elisa, in December 2025. Speaking to ESPN after a 0-2 loss against RKC Waalwijk, the 20-year-old midfielder admitted that he is finding it very difficult to move forward with his life.

Elisa passed away after being struck by a car while running in Ede. Verkuijl described her as the ‘love of my life’ and noted that while he finds solace in football as a way to focus and clear his mind, his life outside of the sport remains a significant challenge. During the match against RKC Waalwijk, which was the first opponent the team faced following the tragedy, Verkuijl wore a shirt featuring his girlfriend's name as a tribute.