Transformations Ahead: Jordi Cruijff’s Vision for Ajax

Jordi Cruijff is yet to officially take on his role as the new technical director at Ajax, but this status will soon change. Expectations are high that he will initiate considerable transformations within the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

Under Cruijff’s leadership, Ajax is poised for a significant overhaul. The current squad is expected to undergo a thorough evaluation, with reports indicating that, in addition to Kenneth Taylor, who recently transferred to SS Lazio, five other players—Anton Gaaei, Owen Wijndal, Kian Fitz-Jim, Branco van den Boomen, and Oliver Edvardsen—are likely to leave. Ideally, these transactions should occur during the current winter transfer window. Furthermore, it is anticipated that Remko Pasveer, now 42 years old, will retire at the end of the season, while Wout Weghorst may embark on one final adventure, potentially abroad, following the conclusion of his contract at Ajax.

Ajax is also in search of new talent, specifically a full-back, a defensive midfielder, and a winger. There is speculation that Maximilian Ibrahimovic could fill the role of the flank player. According to Voetbal International, significant expenditure is not expected: “The supervisory board does not consider it wise to spend millions on players that a new head coach may not favor. The income from Kenneth Taylor’s transfer to Lazio, approximately 17 million euros, will not substantially change this outlook.”

Additionally, there will be a renewed emphasis on youth development at De Toekomst. Players such as Aaron Bouwman, Sean Steur, Rayana Bounida, and Jorthy Mokio are receiving valuable playing time this season, which is expected to continue. This commitment involves investing in training to ensure that Ajax’s youth academy remains the best in the Netherlands, actively scouting for young talents from other clubs, much like Mokio and Bounida were once recruited from Belgium, and minimizing the gap between De Toekomst and the first team at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

Moreover, Cruijff faces two additional priorities on his agenda. Firstly, a new head coach must be appointed for the 2026-2027 season, with names such as Iñígo Pérez from Rayo Vallecano, Eder Sarabia from Elche, and Míchel from Girona emerging as frontrunners. Notably, Roberto Martínez, currently the national coach of Portugal and a close confidant of Cruijff, is also under consideration. Secondly, the board’s structure requires reform, a task currently not assigned to Cruijff but rather to the entire Ajax organization, given that thirty policy-makers have departed Amsterdam in the last three years, indicating underlying issues.