Valentijn Driessen Questions Ajax’s Transfer Strategy After European Defeat
Ajax’s 2-1 defeat to Hajduk Split has prompted renewed scrutiny of the club’s recruitment, with journalist Valentijn Driessen questioning both the players brought in and the strategy behind their signings. His sharpest criticism is aimed at Viktor Tsygankov, the Ukrainian winger who joined Ajax on the recommendation of head coach Míchel Sánchez.
On the Kick-off podcast, the De Telegraaf journalist argued that Tsygankov’s quiet performance was particularly difficult to explain because Míchel had worked with him for three years at Girona. That familiarity, Driessen suggested, should have given Ajax a clear picture of the player’s strengths, limitations and likely fit in Amsterdam.
Driessen’s criticism of Tsygankov
“He worked with this Ukrainian for three years,” Driessen said, pointing to the coach’s previous experience with the winger. The journalist was especially unimpressed by what he saw as a lack of energy and initiative. In his view, Tsygankov failed to make enough of an impact during a match when Ajax needed urgency and attacking intent.
Ajax reportedly paid around €4 million for the 28-year-old, a relatively modest fee compared with some of the club’s other recent investments. But Driessen’s concern is not simply the transfer cost. He questioned why Ajax would spend money on a player whose qualities were already familiar to the coach recommending him, only for the winger to appear so ineffective on the pitch.
One poor performance does not, by itself, settle the debate over a new signing. Players often need time to adapt to a new league, teammates and tactical system. Still, the defeat has intensified attention on Ajax’s recruitment because it followed a wider period of change, with numerous arrivals expected to contribute quickly.
A wider debate over Ajax’s recruitment
Driessen sees Tsygankov’s struggles as part of a larger concern about the club’s transfer policy. He argues that Ajax moved away from a model built around academy graduates and carefully selected additions, instead pursuing a broader group of established players from overseas.
Under Jordi Cruyff’s leadership, Ajax brought in several experienced international footballers on substantial salaries. Driessen says the club appeared to prioritise players expected to deliver an immediate improvement, while placing less emphasis on developing homegrown talent and recruiting from the Dutch league.
That approach can offer short-term benefits. Experienced signings may help a club address urgent gaps and provide leadership in high-pressure matches. But building a team quickly through multiple transfers also carries risks: new arrivals must learn one another’s habits, adjust to the coach’s demands and establish clear roles. If those connections take time to form, a squad that looks strong on paper can struggle to function as a coherent unit.
Marcos Leonardo and the cost of ambition
Driessen also questioned Ajax’s investment in Marcos Leonardo, who reportedly arrived for close to €20 million. The journalist used the signing to criticise the club’s willingness to spend heavily in the Saudi market, joking that Ajax seemed to be doing the opposite of other European teams by sending money there rather than bringing it back.
The comment reflects a broader debate over value in the modern transfer market. Clubs now compete across an increasingly global landscape, where fees, wages and expectations can rise rapidly. A high price does not guarantee an immediate return, particularly when a player must adapt to a new competition and a team still finding its identity. For Ajax supporters, the key question will be whether Leonardo’s performances justify the investment over time.
That assessment should be based on more than a single result. The striker’s role, the service he receives and the balance of the team around him will all influence his impact. Nevertheless, the fee increases the pressure to deliver, while the defeat to Hajduk Split has made every recruitment decision more open to examination.
Can a new-look squad become a team?
One of Driessen’s central arguments is that Ajax have added many players without yet creating a recognisable collective. He estimated that seven or eight players in the side against Hajduk had joined during the previous summer. Some, he noted, had never played together before and may not even share a common language.
That kind of turnover can affect communication, pressing, defensive organisation and decision-making in possession. A team’s chemistry is built through repeated training and match experience, not just by assembling talented individuals. When several newcomers arrive at once, coaches must balance the need to integrate them with the expectation that results will improve immediately.
For Ajax, the challenge is to turn a collection of signings into a side with clear patterns and shared responsibilities. That process may require patience, but the club’s history and expectations leave little room for a long adjustment period. European setbacks, in particular, can quickly intensify pressure on the manager, sporting leadership and players.
Driessen’s prediction for Ajax’s identity
Driessen believes Ajax’s most successful periods have generally depended on a strong club core, supported by promising academy players and a small number of targeted additions. Rather than rebuilding extensively, he argues, the club traditionally recruited to fill specific gaps in an already established team.
His description of the current squad as a “complete foreign legion” captures his concern that Ajax may have lost some of the identity that once set them apart. The phrase is deliberately provocative, but the underlying question is serious: can a club remain true to its development traditions while competing in a transfer market that rewards immediate results and international reach?
The coming fixtures will offer a clearer test of the new group. If Tsygankov and the other arrivals begin to show greater initiative, improve their understanding with teammates and contribute consistently, early criticism may fade. If the performances remain disjointed, Driessen’s concerns about the transfer strategy are likely to grow louder.
For now, the prediction is uncertain. Ajax have invested in experience and attacking talent, but recruitment alone cannot guarantee cohesion or success. The club must show that its newcomers can deliver on the pitch—and that the transfer plan supports, rather than replaces, the identity that made Ajax successful.
