Ajax technical director Jordi Cruijff has launched a significant squad overhaul following the appointment of new head coach Míchel.
The club placed 21 players on the international transfer platform TransferRoom to free up financial resources for summer signings.
The rebuilding strategy aims to restore tactical control after a chaotic season, with a focus on a dominant possession-based style under Míchel.
Spanish Market Targets
Ajax is targeting Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos to fill the defensive midfield vacancy left by Jordan Henderson.
The club is also monitoring Barcelona talent Roony Bardghji and Girona winger Viktor Tsygankov.
Media outlet fcupdate.
nl noted that Ajax must reduce salary costs and improve squad quality to compete at the top of Dutch football.
Former Ajax coach Oscar García highlighted the team's technical limitations earlier this year.
"We must be brave and defend with the ball, that could have been better," García said after a match against Feyenoord.
He expressed dissatisfaction with squad depth, adding, "We have the squad we have."
Departures and Financial Strategy
Several players face potential departures this summer, including full-backs Owen Wijndal and Anton Gaaei, central defenders Josip Sutalo and Ahmetcan Kaplan, midfielders Sivert Mannsverk and Branco van den Boomen, and forward Wout Weghorst.
Cruijff is applying experience from his tenure as sporting director at FC Barcelona, where he navigated strict financial regulations between 2021 and 2023.
In a June 2023 interview with The Athletic, Cruijff reflected on his achievements at Barcelona.
"We came out of a difficult period. We had to deal with problems around Financial Fair Play and some players left.
We ultimately not only survived, but we also became champions," he said.
"If you look at the squad now, we have one of the youngest teams in Europe. The present is good and the future will be too."
