AFC Ajax have completed the signing of Sofyan Amrabat, ending a prolonged search for an experienced central midfielder. The 30-year-old Moroccan international with 78 caps joins on a free transfer from Fenerbahçe, signing a two-year contract in Amsterdam, as reported by NOS Sport.
The arrival of Amrabat is a direct response to the departure of Jordan Henderson last summer, who now plays for Chelsea. Henderson was the captain of the Ajax side that nearly became champions under coach Francesco Farioli. Since his exit, Youri Regeer has filled the role but never grew into an undisputed force. Ajax currently sit 9th in the Eredivisie with 4 points from two games, eight points behind leaders AZ Alkmaar.
Why was this transfer so important?
Coach Míchel Sánchez had labelled signing a controller as his highest priority. "But I have every confidence that Jordi will strengthen our squad," the coach said. His biggest focus was on the defensive midfielder, as he believes play should always come from the midfield. Ajax have conceded nine goals in their last four matches, a sign the team is letting in too many goals under the new coach.
Míchel acknowledges his team must defend more consistently and that balance between offensive and defensive play is most important. Technical director Jordi Cruijff said he always wants to add a player like Roy Keane to his teams, referencing the Irish midfielder who led Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. The search was long, with many names considered before Amrabat was secured.
Which other options did Ajax consider?
Various players were considered for the number 6 position. Míchel mentioned Jorthy Mokio and Daley Blind as options, but only in case of extreme necessity, as it is not their best position. In the final phase against FC Sion, he even moved defender Youri Baas forward one position, a decision he called a moment's choice.
Other names that were considered included Rolando Mandragora of Fiorentina, Yves Bissouma (formerly of Tottenham Hotspur), former Ajax player Edson Álvarez, and Patrick Berg of Bodø/Glimt. Davy Klaassen commented on the difficulty of signing a top player for the position. "The ultimate is having someone there who brings a lot on the ball, but is also good defensively," Klaassen said.
How does Amrabat fit into the current squad?
Amrabat's arrival means Ajax finally have a specialist for the crucial number 6 role. His experience at the highest level, including at the World Cup and in the Premier League, should bring stability to a midfield that lacked that balance. The departure of 18-year-old talent Sean Steur to Newcastle United this summer for about 27 million euros created room for investments in players like Marcos Leonardo and Caio Henrique.
Interestingly, Steur started as a controller in his last two matches for Newcastle, including against Liverpool. At Ajax, however, he played in a more attacking role. The sale shows Ajax's willingness to act to balance the squad. You can view the current lineup on our squad page.
What does this mean for the upcoming matches?
Míchel is relieved that Ajax finally secured a signing shortly before the transfer window closed. He had foreseen that movement in the transfer market would only happen at the very last moment. As a coach, he says he has learned to better handle stress and pressure over the years, using meditation techniques and trying to keep a cool head.
The immediate focus is now on the next league match, a home fixture against PSV Eindhoven on September 5th. PSV are second in the table, making it a key top-of-the-table clash. Ajax, with a +2 goal difference (4 scored, 2 conceded), must improve their defensive organisation quickly. Amrabat's arrival should contribute to that. The current standings can be followed on our standings page and the full schedule on the fixtures overview.
The club also hopes to sign a defender and a left winger, but with Amrabat, the most urgent need has been met. The search that began after Henderson's departure is now, over a year later, at an end.
