Ajax confirmed the signing of Julian Brandt yesterday, following the attacking midfielder's departure from Borussia Dortmund . The 30-year-old has signed a three-year contract in Amsterdam that runs until June 30, 2029.
Brandt spent the past seven seasons with Dortmund after breaking through at Bayer Leverkusen and arrives as a real coup of a signing for Ajax.
On the expiry of his contract, he had strong links to Premier League Leeds United, yet chose an Eredivisie switch. A fine rapport with Jordi Cruyff and an admiration for Ajax were big reasons for his decision.
The new signing explained, "I have been in contact with Jordi since May. At that time, he told me that Ajax was interested. I was obviously very happy, because Ajax is a traditional, great, and big club."
"It was a bit early to talk about what my decision for the summer would be. But I took the time to make a good choice, to think about what I want and which project I wanted to join. This week we worked out all the details and looked at whether it was possible or not."
A big part of his decision hinged on a 4-0 meeting with Ajax in the Champions League in 2021. Looking back at a momentous night at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, a wistful Brandt said, "We had a bad day, but that was also because the opponent played very well. That stuck with me."
"Jordi told me about the project he is working on and about missing out on the championship in recent years. When I looked him in the eyes and heard him talk about what he wants to achieve this season, I got excited. I didn't just speak with Jordi, but also with the coach. He wants to play the kind of football that belongs at Ajax. Making combinations, scoring lots of goals, and ultimately being successful. That suits me. I have the feeling that the plan fits me perfectly."
Technical Director Cruyff addressed his marquee signing with great pride. "Julian has chosen Ajax, and we are absolutely delighted about that. We have been in talks for several months, and he also had the opportunity to sign for other clubs. With Julian, we are bringing in a top international player with a wealth of experience and a fantastic mentality. I am convinced he will add real quality to our squad."
