Surprisingly, Julian Brandt decided to start fresh in Amsterdam after leaving Dortmund. A conversation with Jordi Cruyff ultimately proved decisive.
Atletico Madrid? AS Roma? When it became public on Friday evening that Julian Brandt had chosen Ajax Amsterdam, it wasn’t just fans in the Netherlands who were surprised. “The past few days have been exciting,” the former Dortmund player admits in his first in-depth interview with Ajax TV.
The now 30-year-old speaks of the “right move,” a “great project,” and a “plan that fits me perfectly.” A “perfect match,” in other words. One that didn’t happen overnight. Ajax’s technical director, Jordi Cruyff, had been courting one of the more prominent summer signings for some time. “I’ve been in contact with Jordi since May,” says Brandt, whose impending departure from Dortmund had already become public knowledge back in March.
Brandt was flattered by the interest and was already eager to join a “great, traditional club.” And yet he hesitated: “In May, it was still a little too early to talk about what my decision would be in the summer.”
But Cruyff found the right words. “When Jordi explained to me what he wants to achieve this season, it sparked something in me,” Brandt admits. After three long years without a league title, Brandt and Ajax are on a mission this season. Last season, the proud club finished only fifth—28 (!) points behind champion PSV.
In addition to Cruyff, Brandt also spoke at length with the new Ajax coach, Michel, who, following his time at FC Girona, would love to bring Marc-André ter Stegen to Amsterdam as well. Another conversation that bore fruit. Michel also wants to embody the “Ajax DNA,” and Brandt raves about “combination soccer, lots of goals, and success.”
These are approaches that won’t be implemented overnight. But: “This vision suits me,” says Brandt, who has no intention of staying only briefly. “It was a good sign that we talked about a three-year deal.” The new contract runs through 2029.
How quickly can Brandt make an impact?
It remains to be seen how quickly Brandt can make an impact on the field. “To be honest, it’s pretty tough when you’re training alone, and also a bit boring when you don’t have teammates to play with,” he explained regarding his fitness level.
Opportunities for his first minutes on the field are coming up soon: On Thursday, Ajax will face Shelbourne FC from Ireland in the third round of Conference League qualifying. Just three days later, the 36-time Dutch champions will play their first league match of the new season at PEC Zwolle.
Brandt is particularly looking forward to the home games. Memories of a 0-4 away loss with BVB in the Champions League back in 2021 immediately came to mind during initial discussions. Looking back, he described the atmosphere as “crazy” and said, “That stuck with me.”
Brandt won’t measure up to Blankenburg
No matter how successful their time may be, neither Brandt nor ter Stegen will ever reach the status that Horst Blankenburg achieved in Amsterdam. Thanks to Ajax, he remains the only German to have won the Champions League three times without ever having played for FC Bayern. Above all, however, Brandt and ter Stegen want to use their time at Ajax to re-establish themselves as candidates for the national team. National team coach Jürgen Klopp will be watching closely.
For Ajax and Cruyff, of course, other goals take precedence. The club has invested not only in the two veterans but also in Coach Michel, Caio Henrique (AS Monaco), Tolu Arokodare (on loan from the Wolverhampton Wanderers), Marcos Leonardo (Al-Hilal), and the return of Daley Blind from Girona. With them and the existing talent, the club aims to close the gap on PSV Eindhoven. And they intend to make a virtue out of necessity. Their heart lies with the Champions League, but since the introduction of the Conference League, this is the only European trophy missing from their trophy case. This is a chance to become the second club after Chelsea to complete their collection. Brandt and ter Stegen should prove helpful in this endeavor.