Ajax signed 12 new first-team players in the summer. Jordi Cruijff put a real emphasis on signing experienced players in an attempt to build a squad capable of challenging for the Eredivisie title, despite finishing nearly 30 points behind reigning champions PSV Eindhoven last season.

The club signed Marc ter Stegen on loan from Barcelona. The goalkeeper has had a couple of extremely impressive performances already this season. Julian Brandt, who joined Ajax on a free transfer, has been a standout performer this season, too.

Daley Blind also joined Ajax in the summer, but he has played a limited number of minutes this season as he spent a prolonged period on the sidelines. After the transfer window closed, Ajax also signed Yves Bissouma on a free transfer, and the Malian midfielder brings eight years of Premier League experience with him to Amsterdam.

Thilpo Kehrer and Sofyan Amrabat were also signed, and both have had fairly decent starts to their time at Ajax. Kehrer has been impressive and proved that he can be very useful in games where Ajax have to defend more. He has also filled in at right-back at times. Amrabat has been very good out of possession, but the former Manchester United midfielder has been poor on the ball at times.

Ajax also signed Caio Henrique. The 29-year-old left-back spent six years at Monaco, making over 200 appearances. 

Speaking at Ajax's general meeting of shareholders, Ajax technical director Jordi Cruijff explained why he wanted to sign experienced players and why they are so important in helping the development of younger players.

"It is important to keep developing players, but you also want to make the team combative, so that the young lads can fall and get back up," Cruijff explained.

"The older players need to take the pressure on their shoulders and help those young lads from Monday to Friday. The learning process for young players is from Monday to Friday. People don't see that, but it is the most important phase for a young player.

"If you are floating, you need to be brought back down to earth, and if you fall, you need to be helped. That leadership is now visible in the locker room."

Ajax have been criticised for adopting an approach in the market that was too short-term focused, but Jordi Cruijff has built an excellent squad that is capable of winning the Eredivisie this season, and the club have several exciting young talents. Players like Dies Janse, Aaron Bouwman, Jorthy Mokio, Abdellah Ouazane and Rayane Bounida will all potentially spend a few more years at Ajax. The current squad has a really nice balance, and Jordi Cruijff deserves credit for that.

Ajax also made several signings for Jong Ajax in the summer, and a few of those players have really impressed so far. There are several talents in the current Jong Ajax squad who could break through into the first team in the coming months and potentially next season as well.

Speaking on the Ajax Life podcast, Bounida, who scored his first goal of the season in Ajax's 2-2 draw against FC Twente, opened up on competition for places and learning from the new signings and other experienced players.

"Certainly, because ultimately you have different players in your position and competition is good," Bounida said.

"You are Ajax, a big club, the biggest club in the Netherlands, so there is going to be competition anyway. It is then up to you to show that you are the best.

"From almost everyone, especially from those new guys who have just arrived," Bounida said when asked about who he can learn the most from at Ajax.

"You have Ter Stegen, who has really been through a lot; Brandt too, Tolu, but I can also learn a lot from Davy Klaassen and Steven Berghuis. From everyone, actually."