The decision, which had to be made before May 15, 2026, means that both experienced Ghanaian internationals will depart the Rat Verlegh Stadion when their current deals expire at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Both players had signed contracts until the end of the season, with NAC retaining a unilateral option for an additional year. The club have now chosen not to activate that option for either player.
Denis Odoi, 37, made 19 official appearances for NAC during his time at the club. The versatile defender arrived on a free transfer in November 2025 at a moment when NAC were severely hampered by injuries in the centre of their defence, stepping in to provide the experience and organisational quality the club desperately needed.
His ability to play across the defensive line and his decades of experience at the top level of European football made him a valuable presence in the dressing room even though the club's league position deteriorated.
Andre Ayew, 36, made 16 appearances in NAC's yellow and black, scoring once against Feyenoord in a game that ended 3-3.
Ayew had joined the club in January on a free transfer, brought in to provide additional firepower in attack. The goals, however, did not come with the frequency the club needed, and the single strike against Feyenoord proved to be his only contribution in front of goal.
The backdrop to both departures is the relegation that confirmed NAC's exit from the Eredivisie earlier this month.
Their final home match of the season, a fixture against Heerenveen, descended into chaos when supporters threw flares and fireworks onto the pitch on multiple occasions, forcing the referee to abandon the game at 2-0. The result was ultimately irrelevant to their fate, with results elsewhere already condemning NAC to the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.
Both players now face significant decisions about the next steps in their careers.
For Odoi, now 37, the question is whether to continue playing at a professional level or to step away from the game entirely.
For Ayew, the calculation is more complex and carries an international dimension that will shape any decision he makes. Talks about the former captain rejoining the national team ahead of the World Cup have died down due to his poor form.
One thing is for certain, Odoi and Ayew are approaching the twilights of their respective careers, and it won't be surprising to see them hang up their boots soon.
