After becoming Dutch champions for the 31st time in the club’s history, Frank de Boer’s men would be keen to defend their title as well as look to advance to the knock-out stages of UEFA Champions League at least.
Since the start of the Dutch national football championship in 1888, Ajax Amsterdam is the only club playing in the highest echelons of Dutch football that has thus far achieved significant success at domestic and European level.
Founded in 1900, the Amsterdammers won their first Dutch championship in the 1917/18 season, and since then, the club has been winning silverware consistently.
Bettor.com analysis the changes in De Joden’s squad that have taken place in the ongoing summer transfer window.
Arrivals:
Tobias Sana:
The Swedish attacker, who started his professional career in the 2007/08 season at Qviding FIF, has been performing consistently for the past couple of seasons while wearing the IFK Goteborg jersey.
The versatile forward played over 50 league matches for the Swedish outfit, netting three goals while providing plenty of assists along the way.
Sana’s arrival at Amsterdam Arena will certainly provide more options upfront to the head coach, Frank de Boer.
Lasse Schone:
The 26-year-old midfielder, who made his professional debut in the 2005/06 season at Heerenveen, has tons of experience under his belt, and the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/NEC-c40018 Nijmegen midfield ace seems to be the Amsterdammers most valued acquisition.
Departures:
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dmitri-Bulykin-c11392:
The Russian ace arrived at Amsterdam Arena in the summer of 2011 on a season-long deal. His consistent showings convinced the club management to offer him a new contract, but the veteran striker opted to move away in order to enjoy
regular playing time.
The 32-year-old netted nine goals in 19 Eredivisie matches – was mostly used from the bench throughout the 2011/12 campaign – before joining http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Twente-c39233 Enschede earlier this summer.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jan-Vertonghen-c17814:
The Belgian stopper, who came through the ranks of the Amsterdammers’ fabled youth academy, was heavily linked with a move away from Amsterdam Arena before the ongoing summer transfer window slammed shut, following his rock solid
showings for the past couple of seasons.
AC Milan, Manchester United, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 and Real Madrid were among many of his admirers, but the talented centre-back opted to join Tottenham Hotspur, as none of the other interested clubs showed any serious intent of signing him
this summer.
The Belgian international represented the Amsterdam giants in well over 150 league matches, scoring 23 goals while proving some useful assists along the way during his six-year stay at Amsterdam Arena.
Nicolas Lodeiro:
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder was not a regular for the Amsterdammers, but his departure will certainly minimise De Boer’s options in the midfield, especially if couple of his first-team midfielders sideline due to injuries.
The Uruguayan international played 20 Eredivisie matches, finding the back of the net twice, before moving to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Botafogo-c38671 earlier this summer.
Aras Ozbiliz:
The Turkish-born Armenian footballer started his professional career at Amsterdam Arena in the 2010/11 season after spending two years with the club’s youth academy.
The youngster represented the Amsterdammers in 26 league matches and netted two goals. However, he opted to take the next step in his career by joining the Russian outfit, Kuban Krasnodar, last month.
Conclusion:
After winning the 2011/12 campaign, mass exodus was always on the cards. Ajax will certainly not miss any of their players, who have left Amsterdam Arena this summer. However, Vertonghen’s departure will certainly affect on De
Joden’s chances of defending their title.
Disclaimer: Views and opinions in this article are of writer’s own and do not reflect the editorial policy of bettor.com.
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