Jorthy Mokio has confirmed his decision to represent the Democratic Republic of Congo at international level instead of Belgium.
The 18-year-old Ajax midfielder, who was born in Ghent, Belgium, announced the decision in an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, saying he chose to follow his instincts and embrace his Congolese roots.
“I decided to follow my instincts and make myself available for Congo. So I hope to be able to play for them soon,” Mokio said.
Mokio becomes the second young Ajax player to switch international allegiance from Belgium in recent months after Rayane Bounida opted to represent Morocco earlier this year.
Although Mokio previously featured for Belgium’s national team in March 2025, he said his connection to Congo has grown stronger over time.
“They had shown interest before, but at the time I was still too young to make a definitive choice,” he explained. “Over time, my connection to the country where my roots lie has grown stronger.”
Meanwhile, the midfielder recently signed a contract extension with Ajax until 2031 after personally handling negotiations with the club.
Reports in the Netherlands claimed the decision led to tensions with his father, who allegedly preferred a move elsewhere and had different financial expectations.
Speaking on Ajax’s official platform, Mokio said he was proud of taking responsibility for his career decisions. “I told myself I had to speak up for myself and listen to myself. I’m proud of how it went, and I have no regrets,” he said.
