AFC Ajax has this week finalized the loan signing of defender Thilo Kehrer while the squad prepares for their away match against Telstar. The Amsterdam side currently sits fourth in the Eredivisie with seven points from three matches, following two wins and a draw.
Which defender is joining Ajax?
According to De Telegraaf, AS Monaco has given Thilo Kehrer permission to travel to Amsterdam for a medical. The German defender will join on loan from the Monegasque club. The clubs have reached a broad agreement and are now working on the final details of the deal. Kehrer is a centre-back who played nearly one hundred matches for Monaco after arriving in January 2024. He is dominant in duels, both on the ground and in the air. Last season he won 63.7 percent of his duels in Ligue 1. His experience and quality are intended to help Ajax in the title race, where they currently trail leaders AZ Alkmaar by five points.
How is Ajax performing in the league?
Ajax has made a strong start to the Eredivisie season with eight goals scored and only two conceded. That positive goal difference of plus six is a good sign for the defensive organization. Michel Sanchez's team travels to the BUKO Stadion on Sunday for the match against Telstar, kicking off at 4:45 PM local time. The Amsterdammers carry confidence from a 5-3 victory over FC Sion in the Europa Conference League playoffs this past Thursday. They also hold a strong head-to-head record against Telstar, with five consecutive wins in their meetings. Fans can always check the current standings and team stats on our site.
What does Kehrer's arrival mean for the defense?
Kehrer's arrival follows a summer in which Ajax has thoroughly rebuilt its defense. Left-backs Caio Henrique and Jofre Torrents were signed earlier. In central defense, Josip Sutalo, Ko Itakura, and Ahmetcan Kaplan departed, while Daley Blind was signed and Dies Janse returned from a loan spell. Sporting director Jordi Cruijff wants to give manager Michel Sanchez a team capable of winning the Eredivisie this season. The addition of Kehrer, a right-footed central defender, fits that plan. Ajax had previously made an unsuccessful bid to loan Enzo Boyomo from Osasuna. The squad for the coming season can be found on our squad page.
What are the next steps for Ajax?
Following the match against Telstar, Ajax faces an important away fixture against FC Twente on November 8th. Twente currently sits eighth in the table. The Amsterdammers aim to continue their good run of form, which currently reads WDW: win, draw, win. Kehrer's arrival is meant to further solidify the defense for these challenges. The German international previously played 128 matches for Paris Saint-Germain and made his professional debut at Schalke. His contract with Monaco runs until the summer of 2027.
