Valentijn Driessen Questions Ajax’s Viktor Tsygankov Transfer After European Defeat
Ajax’s recruitment strategy has come under renewed scrutiny after a disappointing 2-1 Conference League defeat to Hajduk Split. De Telegraaf journalist Valentijn Driessen used the result to question both the club’s recent transfer decisions and the impact of winger Viktor Tsygankov, who arrived in Amsterdam on the recommendation of head coach Míchel Sánchez.
Driessen’s criticism is particularly sharp because Míchel had worked with the Ukrainian international for around three years at Girona. That familiarity, the journalist argues, should have given Ajax a clear picture of what Tsygankov could contribute before the club committed money to the deal. Instead, Driessen says, the winger has looked short of energy and initiative.
Driessen challenges the logic behind Tsygankov’s arrival
Speaking on the Kick-off podcast, Driessen pointed to the apparent disconnect between Ajax’s investment in Tsygankov and the performances he has seen so far. Ajax reportedly paid approximately €4 million for the 28-year-old, a fee that may be modest by the standards of Europe’s biggest clubs but still represents a significant commitment for a player expected to strengthen the team immediately.
“He worked with this Ukrainian for three years,” Driessen said, questioning why the club pursued the winger if his current displays were representative of what the coaching staff expected. The journalist described Tsygankov as “lifeless” and argued that he had shown little initiative on the pitch.
Those comments reflect a wider concern among supporters: Ajax need new signings to make an immediate difference, especially when they are brought in as experienced first-team players. A transfer is not judged only by its fee. Fans also expect a clear role, visible effort and an improvement in the team’s attacking play. If a new arrival struggles to influence matches, questions about the scouting process and the coach’s involvement are likely to follow.
Ajax’s transfer strategy faces bigger questions
For Driessen, Tsygankov is not an isolated case. He sees the winger’s struggles as part of a broader shift in how Ajax have built their squad. The club has moved toward signing established players from abroad, often on substantial salaries, while placing less emphasis on Dutch-based talent and the academy pathway that has traditionally helped define Ajax.
Under the leadership of Jordi Cruyff, Ajax recruited several experienced internationals with the stated aim of raising the team’s level quickly. That approach can bring quality and leadership, but it also carries risks. New players need time to adapt to the league, the club’s playing style and one another. When many arrive in a short period, a squad may have individual talent without developing the understanding needed to perform consistently as a unit.
Driessen argues that Ajax have moved too far from a model that once produced some of the club’s strongest teams: a reliable core of players developed at Ajax, promising young prospects and a small number of carefully selected additions. In his view, recruitment should fill specific gaps rather than remake the squad wholesale.
Marcos Leonardo signing adds to recruitment debate
The journalist also questioned the arrival of Marcos Leonardo, who reportedly cost close to €20 million. Driessen used the Brazilian forward’s transfer from Saudi Arabia to make a pointed comparison with the spending patterns of other clubs. His criticism was not simply about the player’s nationality or background; it was about whether Ajax are paying premium prices for signings who have yet to provide the impact the club needs.
That distinction matters. A high transfer fee does not guarantee success, and a player’s previous reputation cannot substitute for a clear plan for how he will fit into the team. Ajax must assess whether each signing addresses a specific weakness, complements the existing squad and suits the club’s preferred style of play. Without that clarity, even talented recruits can look like expensive pieces in a team that has not yet found its shape.
A squad still searching for cohesion
Driessen’s most fundamental concern is that Ajax do not yet look like a settled team. He noted that seven or eight players in the side against Hajduk Split had been signed during the previous summer. Many had little or no experience playing together, and language differences may also complicate communication on the pitch and during training.
That does not mean a multicultural squad cannot succeed. Top clubs regularly bring together players from different countries and footballing backgrounds. But cohesion takes time, and it usually depends on a shared tactical understanding, strong leadership and a stable group of regular starters. If the lineup changes frequently or new arrivals are expected to deliver immediately, building those connections becomes harder.
The 2-1 defeat to Hajduk Split therefore offered more than a disappointing result. It exposed familiar questions about Ajax’s balance, identity and ability to turn individual signings into a functioning collective. The club will need to show that the new arrivals can contribute consistently and that the coaching staff has a plan to bring them together.
Can Ajax return to a more balanced model?
Ajax’s history gives the debate extra weight. The club has often enjoyed its best periods when academy graduates and homegrown leaders formed the backbone of the team, supported by a limited number of targeted signings. That structure can create continuity, help younger players develop and give supporters a recognisable connection to the team.
However, relying on the academy alone is not a complete solution. Ajax still need experienced players, particularly when competing in Europe and trying to challenge domestically. The key question is whether the club can strike a balance: recruit proven quality where necessary, promote talent from within and avoid bringing in so many new players that the team loses its identity.
For now, Driessen’s prediction is that Ajax’s current recruitment direction risks taking the club further from the formula that once made it successful. His description of the squad as a “complete foreign legion” captures his concern that the team has become disconnected from its traditional foundations. Ajax’s response will be measured not only by future transfer activity but by whether players such as Tsygankov and Marcos Leonardo can justify the investment with stronger, more influential performances.
