Babangida joined Ajax in the summer of 1996 in a long-anticipated €5 million move.[1] He appeared in 29 league games, scoring four goals in his first season with Ajax.[2] Babangida played an important role in Ajax's European campaign, scoring three goals, including one against Auxerre in the group stages,[17] and the winning goal in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League encounter with Atlético Madrid at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, that put Ajax through to the semi-finals of the competition.[18]