Ajax have enjoyed a stellar Eredivisie campaign, as they currently sit top of the Eredivisie table, eight points clear of reigning champions PSV Eindhoven with ten games remaining in the Dutch top-flight.
The Dutch giants are also in the last-16 of the Europa League and play German team Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of the tie on Thursday night. It is a tricky tie, but the Eagles’ form has dipped slightly since the departure of Omar Marmoush to Manchester City in the winter transfer window.
Ajax are looking to end the season strongly
Ajax will be looking to end the season strongly by maintaining their lead at the top of the table and winning the Eredivisie title for the first time since Erik ten Hag left in 2022.
They will also want to go as far as they can in the Europa League, a competition that they have won just once back in season 1991/92 when it was still the UEFA Cup.
It hasn’t been a long wait for another domestic title, but this season’s campaign has been impressive, considering what happened last season. Francesco Farioli’s team have performed an exceptional turnaround.
They need a strong transfer window this summer
Ajax needs another solid summer in the transfer market. Last summer, the club was slightly cautious in the transfer market spending, spending very little in fees. However, they managed to bring in Davy Klaassen, Wout Weghorst, Bertrand Traore and Daniele Rugani.
The club received close to €70m in transfer fees from sales of their own players combined last summer and in the January transfer window.
The summer was in contrast to the previous summer when, by their standards, the club splurged on several players and spent a decent amount of money on players that didn’t all workout.
Last summer’s approach was far more financially prudent, and Klaassen, Weghorst and Traore have been amongst the team’s best performers.
🚨 Ajax are hoping to sign Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey and Joel Veltman on free transfers when their contracts expire this summer.
(Source: Mirror) pic.twitter.com/C6Q9UljpLz
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) February 16, 2025
It was interesting that the club was active during the January transfer window. Oliver Edvardsen arrived from Go Ahead Eagles, Youri Regeer moved from FC Twente and full-back Lucas Rosa joined from Real Valladolid.
All three arrived for a combined total that was just over €10m, which is crazy, as all three players have already shown their quality at their previous clubs this season. These are the sort of shrewd signings that Ajax have become renowned for over the years.
Players who are in their early-mid 20s and have shown their quality elsewhere but have massive scope to develop into even better players in the future. The price tags were also small for the potential of the trio.
If Ajax continues in their January vein next summer in the transfer market, or that of last summer, the team will no doubt be improved.
With the likelihood of Champions League football next season, the squad needs to be improved despite how well the team has done this season. The signings in the winter transfer window have made the summer recruitment drive slightly easier, as all three players add something to the squad.
One priority position is a goalkeeper
One position that has to be a priority for Ajax this summer is a new goalkeeper. Veteran goalkeeper Remko Pasveer has made 21 appearances in the Eredivisie, which is an impressive number considering that he is 41 years of age.
To be fair to Pasveer, he has not let anybody down in the Ajax goal this season. However, his contract expires in June, and even if a new contract is agreed upon, the club needs to start thinking about signing a long-term replacement.
Jay Gorter has never seemed to have had the trust of any Ajax boss. The 24-year-old’s future with the Dutch giants seems uncertain. He has made just 15 first-team appearances for Ajax in all competitions. It seems unlikely he will be Pasveer’s long-term replacement.
January loan signing Matheus was a short-term signing and has made just two Eredivisie appearances for Ajax. The Brazilian doesn’t seem like the answer either, so it seems Ajax will look elsewhere for a new goalkeeper.
An interesting summer ahead
In their current position, Ajax look set to qualify for the Champions League for next season. We all know that European football’s elite competition brings a significant financial reward, especially now that the competition has expanded the league stage.
Although the club will receive a financial boost from the Champions League, Hopefully, the Amsterdammers will be clever in the transfer market, as they have been in recent windows, and bring in the players the squad needs for the challenge of the Champions League next season.
One thing is for sure, Ajax are in for an interesting summer for ins and outs in the transfer market.