Leon Bailey, Jhon Duran and Moussa Diaby scored after the break as Villa brushed aside Ajax, whose captain Jordan Henderson was barracked throughout.
There was anxious silence when Ollie Watkins stayed down after he was booked for a foul Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj.
With heavy strapping on his left knee, Watkins carried on – and headed home Douglas Luiz’s corner before coming off three minutes later.
Just before the break, Ajax forward Brian Brobbey’s close-range effort beat Emi Martinez but was cleared off the line by Matty Cash.
