From Leverkusen to Amsterdam: why Julian Brandt chose Ajax over the world’s clubs

The Johan Cruijff Arena fell silent long before the final whistle at Thursday’s Conference League qualifier against Shelbourne. By then, the result was already decided. Yet as the minutes ticked down, thousands of Dutch supporters rose to their feet, hands clapping in unison. What had drawn them to their feet was not the scoreline, but the sight of a new number 8 stepping onto the pitch: Julian Brandt.

The 30-year-old midfielder had signed a three-year contract with Ajax just six days earlier, a move that stunned friends and rivals alike. Free to choose from clubs and top competitions worldwide after a Champions League final, 48 caps and nearly 400 Bundesliga matches, Brandt had options. Yet he turned them down. “I took my time, to be honest,” he said in fluent English, not German. “I was transfer-listed for the first time and I’m no longer 20. There was interest from clubs all over the world. But after three conversations, I felt something in my gut. Ajax and Jordi kept spinning in my head.”

Brandt cut a striking figure as he arrived for his first press conference: blonde hair tousled, dressed casually like a surfer. But once seated, he spoke with the precision of an artist. “I see myself as an eight — a midfielder who connects everyone,” he said. “That’s where I can link the play.”

Technical director Jordi Cruijff received immediate credit for sealing the deal. “When I spoke with Jordi, you could see the fire in his eyes for the project,” Brandt said. “He sets the bar high. This is the dream, but he also knows: talking alone won’t get us there.”

The dream, as Brandt described it, is to rebuild Ajax after years of decline. “Jordi wants to do something special after the bad years. I want to be part of that. It’s a tough task. We’ve had three years of relatively low expectations. Rebuilding is easier said than done, but I think it’s possible.”

Brandt knows Ajax from the inside. In 2021, he and Borussia Dortmund faced Ajax in the Champions League group stage. The Dutch side were dismantled 4-0 by a Dortmund side featuring Erling Haaland and a young Jude Bellingham. “We talked about what Ajax stands for,” Brandt recalled. “Jordi embodies more of the Ajax spirit than I do. We spoke about the club’s past, about Erik ten Hag’s era, about great players. They were so successful.”

Ajax now stands in stark contrast to those glory days. Brandt experienced first-hand how even a club rich in talent can slide into crisis. “When you sell your best players, you have to keep rebuilding,” he said. “Everyone must work toward the same goal. After four days, I can say one thing for sure: at Ajax, everything is clear now.”

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He arrived with a clear mission: to help restore the club to its former status. “I’ve seen it all — really, I have,” he said. “Look at Leverkusen: they won the Bundesliga a few years ago when no one expected it. You can turn things around quickly. But you can also prepare well and lose everything, and no one understands why afterward.”

Brandt was born in Bremen and made his breakthrough at Bayer Leverkusen, where he later worked under current PSV coach Peter Bosz. “I love him as a coach. I still keep in touch with him. He’s happy for me now, but he’s also PSV’s head coach, of course. He wants to win the league for the fourth time.”

Brandt himself is not satisfied with anything less than trophies. “In seven seasons at Dortmund, I never won the league. I point to Bayern Munich — they’ve been incredible. In ten years, they were vulnerable only once.”

He could have stayed at Dortmund, but chose change. “I wanted a different experience — a different country. I’m closer to Germany than I expected, but I still want to win every year. Otherwise, I might as well stay home.”

At Ajax, he expects to be used as a midfielder, ideally in the number 8 role. “I feel most comfortable there, though it depends on the system,” he said, gesturing with his hands. “In a 4-3-3, the midfield is the engine that connects everyone.”

Brandt is not just a player, but a thinker. When asked about creativity, he slipped into tactical reflection. “I don’t want Mika Godts stuck in midfield just linking defense and attack. I want him preparing for one-on-one situations, cutting inside, shooting, going deep. That’s how he saves energy and becomes more effective.”

He stressed the need for three versatile midfielders who can read the game, pass accurately and accelerate at the right moment. “That way, when we win the ball, we can counter-press immediately.”

He cited his time at Leverkusen with Kai Havertz and Charles Aranguiz as an example. “We controlled almost every game. Our striker, Kevin Volland, scored 32 goals. Why? Because we fed him at the right moment.”

Brandt also admires former Ajax player Frenkie de Jong. “He knows exactly when to speed up or slow down. I hope we can reach that level so we can control every team we face.”

Now, he wants to help Ajax’s young talents make better decisions. “I want to help them improve their choices. Not just dribble because it’s the Eredivisie. Sometimes you have to avoid running into two or three more opponents. But here, they all have technique. I love that. And I think I can still learn a lot here too.”