❌❌❌Rebuilding AJAX❌❌❌
AJAX are looking for ways to come out of the hole they've essentially dug themselves. It seems a lifetime ago but just over two years ago in February 2022, Ajax was on the peak of its powers...
Forum Discussion
Consecutive cup final wins! Well done. And even without Brobbey scoring in the final, hehe.
Speaking of finals, seeing Man United in the Champions League final against Bayern, hmmm... I know the Ajax-Tottenham game provoked a few thoughts on previous games, but this one may be an even bigger trigger of flashbacks.
Well done on another trophy. 16 shots faced!? You were efficient with your shots and passing looking at the stats.
One trophy down and one to go.
A win was enough for Ajax against Utrecht, to clinch the Eredivisie title definitively. And minutes before a severe injury, Brian Brobbey delivered just that with his 45th and final goal of this season. The striker will miss the 2026 World Cup due to this injury. However, Ajax showed it could also score without their main target man, with Kenneth Taylor doubling the score and securing the title: 2-0.
Even though the title is now official, Ajax opted to celebrate in the final game in their home stadium, the last round against AZ.
Only four days later but with the title secured, Marzec fielded a somewhat alternative team against PEC Zwolle. More than actual goals, manager Daniel Marzec wanted to see a proper display in possession and passing: 'We need to treat these last games of the current season as a warm-up for next season. The philosophy is that the opponent cannot score without the ball: that's why we need to have the ball (possession), keep it (passing) and chances will always arise. From there, it's a matter of quality and efficiency to convert the opportunities that are given to us. We got it half right today.'
The injury of Brobbey and the difficulties with finding the net against PEC, moved Ajax to recall striker Chuba Akpom from his loan spell at already relegated side Deportivo Alavés. Once again with a target man up front, Ajax repeated the dominant displays of recent times, only finding the net with ease this time, including a goal for the one that had returned especially for the occasion!
The last game of the season at home against regional rival AZ Alkmaar, was a goodbye game for Christiaan Peters (moving to West Ham United) and Wout Weghorst (retiring). The latter was able to score a goal in his final minutes as a professional player: four minutes after his 2-0, he got a traditional 'honourable substitution'.
The other goals were scored by Patrick Jansen and Roel Kuiper, two home grown products from the Ajax Academy that both enjoyed their debuts in the last year and a half under the spell of manager Daniel Marzec, a name that can now be mentioned in one sentence together with Rinus Michels , Johan Cruijff as winner of two consecutive Dutch Cups.
By winning a double (title & cup) he joins another elite group with Rinus Michels (2x - 1967, 1970), Stefan Kovacs (1972), Cor Brom (1979), Aad de Mos (1983), Morten Olsen (1998), Ronald Koeman (2002) and Erik ten Hag (2x - 2019, 2021)
Okay, time to review.
Looking at the first team overview, some questions/challenges that immediately pop up:
- 9 players enter their final year of contract: Bizot (35) and Klaassen (33) although aged have a key role in this team. They will either extend or retire here, or get a free transfer if they so wish. The same applies to reserve goalkeeper Mickey van der Hart: a year from now, youth GK Kujałowicz will be at 72-73 OVR and that's good enough to become 2nd goalie at least. Amourricho van Axel Dongen and Christian Rasmussen are done, they fall short and they lack quality. Owen Wijndal, Mika Godts, Kian Fitz-Jim and Julian Rijkhoff however, they are difficult - extend, or let go?
- From the new signings Aboukhlal, Rosario, Mengi and Danjuma, only the last one has truly delivered. Aboukhlal was out twice for months due to injury, while Mengi and Rosario lack accelaration and speed. Rosario compensates that by being strong on the ball, but Teden Mengi has been somewhat dissappointing. All four weigh heavily on the salary household, which is why I lean towards letting them go against proper bids and replace them with Ajax-DNA players, especially the fragile Aboukhlal and the slow Mengi.
- 1.5 years of loan has paid off for David de Vries, especially this recent season at Udinese: I think the left footed midfielder is ready for a more important role in the team, beginning next season. Carlos Forbs, who was loaned out a second year to Wolverhampton will remain there permanently as the club has decided to make use of the loan-to-buy clause of €11,000,000,- as he has outgrown that value due to his performances at that club. So another compatriot for the FC Portugal of the Premier League.
A lot to catch up on. I love the end of season decisions that come. I hope Danjuma is in your future plans, him and Brobbey can carry the attack to another title next season.
The squad looks balanced with the age. A good mix of young players with aging players.
Do you see Hato being a future captain or do you have other plans for a future captain?
With the cup title in the bank, a Dutch double was written in the cards. It's crazy to see you win the title with 13 points though! I thought it was closer than that, but you've made quite the gap over the final stages of the season.
Brobbey getting injured could be a blessing in disguise. It's not the worst time to miss him for a 3 months period, and maybe an injury over the summer will also keep the European top teams at a distance, forcing them to target other forwards in stead. Having won the goals record and secured both titles, this may have been the perfect time for him to get such injury.
SEASON 3 - 2026-2027: HERE WE GO!
Transfers up until the turn of the season:
- striker Wout Weghorst (retired)
- wingers Amourricho van Axel Dongen and Christian Rasmussen belonged to nine players that entered their final year of contract. When earlier in the year Zakaria Aboukhlal fell out with an injury, both got their chance and fell short.
- Carlos Forbs in real life is on loan at Wolverhampton (2024-25). In game, the Wolves turned up again in summer of 2025 - this time with a loan-to-buy request. I think they've taken him because the fee we agreed on in the loan-to-buy clause (€11,000,000,-) by summer 2026 was under his current market value (€12,500,000,-)
- Mathias Moens is the next academy player that gets a year out on loan, before being given a chance within the ranks of Ajax: this method allows the player to grow its OVR and also leaves a bit of surprise how the player will truly feel when he returns.
- Christiaan Peters is my first home grown academy product to make a lucrative transfer, but it feels like the first child leaving the nest.
No mention of fees for the two players here. I wonder why you left that information out?
Sandler is an interesting option. From what I can see he's only performed for PEC Zwolle and NEC Nijmegen, being a flop for the other four clubs, he's played in. Perhaps the four seasons at NEC have done him good, but still it would probably be a transfer I would be somewhat concerned by as a fan.
The same could be said about Beijmo. He's a decent player, but a 28 year old having only played in Denmark and Sweden since 2020, that hardly screams Champions League football. I like his pace and stamina stats, and he's a decent player and could be a good squad player. But that is also the case for Gaaei, isn't it? Who, as I understand it, has overcome his difficult start admirably and is more than 3 years younger than the Swede.
Don't get me wrong, these two can probably be decent squad players, coming to Ajax in a mature age and help the club and it's youngsters with their experience. Both will probably also be properly motivated to give their absolute best, finally finding themselves to be in a top club. But in my honest opinion I wouldn't have guessed them to be thought of as starters, which their squad numbers suggest.
I do like, however, that you're not targeting top shelf players, who would probably be reluctant to join an Eredevisie side IRL. But maybe this is shooting a bit low?
@JustinCase0110 no fees are yet mentioned, but they'll pass by in an overview soon.
They're all valid points, but: -
- the purpose is to implement Ajax-DNA into the team: that's where Sandler comes in - he's Amsterdam born and bread, plus he's a product of the Ajax academy, we constantly try to highlight.
- season 3 is going to be the first season in Champions League: we need (even more) players at their peak (25-30 years), but players that (as you indicate) see Ajax and Champions League as a step up.
We have an experienced goalie (Bizot, 35), an experienced midfielder (Klaassen, 33) and an experienced attacker (Becker, 31). We have talent coming up on goal (Kujalowicz, currently on loan), in defense (Amrani, Hato), on midfield (De Vries, Jansen) and in attack (Godts, Kuiper). Taylor and Brobbey (both 24 now) are edging towards their absolute peak; Danjuma (29), Aboukhlal (26), Sosa (28) and Wijndal (26) are already there.
What I am trying to say, is that every position has ticked the boxes of talent, experience, Ajax-DNA..., with the exception of the full back positions: on the right we lack experience, on the left there's no home grown player yet, or somebody with clear roots at Ajax, or in Amsterdam.
So, my logic is that if I'd have to drop one, it's Gaaei. Beijmo is a near identical copy, with better stats because he's a bit older and a bit further: +4 attacking, +5 defending, +7 skills, +10 in power, +6 in movement, identical in mentality.
Having said all that: Gaaei is not gone yet, is he? On the left back position, there's another issue: Sosa is also a Mislintat-player, Wijndal is at his peak and in his final year of contract: to be continued.
Tough pre-season. But good on you for testing some different things in preparation for the new season.
France winning the World Cup again. Quite a good run for Deschamps then. Legend. Mbappé on the scoresheet, I wonder if he scored 4 or more throughout the tournament? With 12 goals from 2018 and 2022, four more goals will equal Miroslav Klose's all-time record. With 5 goals Mbappé will hold the record for himself.
@JustinCase0110 wrote:With 5 goals Mbappé will hold the record for himself.
Mbappé got to 3 goals only: topscorers were Florian Wirtz (Ger, 9), Bukayo Saka (Eng, 5) and Alexis Vega (Mex, 4).
That is a shame about Chuba Akpom, I always thought he had potential to turn into a key player at Ajax after he failed to settle in with other clubs. Who has been the best English player to play for Ajax? Jordan Henderson?
I like the move bringing Misehouy back. He is still young and can be a dynamic player in midfield for another creative option. The moves to bring back the Ajax DNA are very obvious, a clear plan is in movement.
@LABoog4 wrote:That is a shame about Chuba Akpom, I always thought he had potential to turn into a key player at Ajax after he failed to settle in with other clubs. Who has been the best English player to play for Ajax? Jordan Henderson?
There was a striker once named Ray Clarke (late 1970s). Didn't do much in England, but was an absolute bomb in the Netherlands (Sparta, Ajax).
But of the current batch I'd say one can see the absolute quality in Henderson.
Whether he fits at Ajax is a different story...
There aren't that many players from England: CHECK THE LIST HERE
Brexit - Akpom and Mengi leaving.
I like the attention to squad numbers. I'm a squad number nerd myself and always issue the numbers for a reason; Previously worn or other reasons.
Interesting with a new winger on the cards. Eager to see whom that might be.
@JustinCase0110 wrote:Brexit - Akpom and Mengi leaving.
I like the attention to squad numbers. I'm a squad number nerd myself and always issue the numbers for a reason; Previously worn or other reasons.
Interesting with a new winger on the cards. Eager to see whom that might be.
@JustinCase0110 yup, my favorite segment on transfermarket website: kit number history.
A dominating start, not only with goals but also a very high xG through three games. This feels like a team that is ready to run away with the league. The focus has to be on Europe, that will determine if the season is a success or not.
@LABoog4 wrote:A dominating start, not only with goals but also a very high xG through three games. This feels like a team that is ready to run away with the league. The focus has to be on Europe, that will determine if the season is a success or not.
It's now or never indeed, because this is the last season before some of the crucial players are leaving the nest. Plus, I feel Klaassen (33) is aging and is getting less.
And so far, so good: the new tactics and also some players in different roles are creating miracles...
@Danimal5981 wrote:yup, my favorite segment on transfermarket website: kit number history.
Yes, I'm familiar 😉
It's almost OCD-like for me, to be honest. Numbers need to fit to the position the player is going to play. Nicklas Bendtner playing with number 3 as a striker, or Wilfried Bony with number 2. Hate that to the bone. Even when I'm out playing with my +40 football team against other OldBoys/amateur sides, I have a hard time accepting the fact that our central defender picks the number 11 shirt to play in. Come on man, you KNOW you're playing in defence!
Another thing I hate is when high numbers are used. Frank Kessie with number 79 for instance. WHY? Youth players are excusable, but when they grow to senior status, they really shouldn't still play in number 47 (Foden) or 66 (Tranmere Trent) anymore IMO. Rashford was promoted in number 39, then got number 19 and then number 10. That's the way it should be. For that I really like the Spanish system, where numbers 1 to 25 needs to be used, number 1, 13 and 25 for the three keepers.
ON topic, definitely a flying start here, a 7-0 win and a win and wins vs AZ, FC Twente and PSV. Ajax are beginning to look like a true Ajax side.
