 For his performance in the 2008–09 season, he was awarded AFC Ajax's Talent of the Year.Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Van der Wiel switched shirt number from 15 to 2.After an injury scare in which he managed to recover from, Van der Wiel started the 2009–10 season well under new Ajax manager Martin Jol, scoring his third league goal on 8 August 2009.