Ajax have signed 12 first-team players since Michel Sanchez arrived, as the club look to return to the top of Dutch football. 

The midfield is an area that Ajax have strengthened significantly since the end of last season. The defensive midfield position in particular was a real area of concern for Ajax. In the summer of 2025, Ajax signed James McConnell on loan from Liverpool, but the midfielder's time in Amsterdam did not go to plan, and he returned to Merseyside in the winter.

Ajax held talks over a deal to bring Edson Alvarez back to the club in the summer. The Mexican midfielder also attracted interest from Real Sociedad, but ended up staying at West Ham United.

Ajax eventually completed a deal to sign Sofyan Amrabat on a free transfer after his contract at Fenerbahçe was terminated. Ajax also signed Yves Bissouma on a free transfer after his contract at Tottenham Hotspur expired in the summer.

It was also evident that Ajax wanted to sign a more attack-minded midfielder. The Amsterdammers held talks over deals for Sven Mijnans and Azzedine Ounahi. Neither transfer materialised, however, with Mijnans moving to PSV Eindhoven and Ounahi moving to Panathinaikos.

In the end, Ajax signed Julian Brandt on a free transfer after his contract at Borussia Dortmund expired. He has been exceptional so far this season.

Another midfielder who was available on the market this summer was AZ Alkmaar's Kees Smit. Despite reported interest from several clubs, the young midfielder ended up staying in Alkmaar.

In an interview with De Telegraaf, Smit said he is not particularly keen on a move to Ajax, Feyenoord, or PSV Eindhoven.

When asked if AZ Alkmaar's asking price played a role in a transfer to another Dutch side not developing in the summer, Smit said:  "That has to do with it, but also with the fact that AZ is currently on par with PSV, Ajax, or Feyenoord.

"I thought the move to PSV was a very logical step for Sven, and he earned it. But again, I don't know if that is the case for me as well. And nothing has come along for me that I had to think twice about.

"The difference is no longer as big as before, although PSV was an exception last season.

"The step from AZ to one of those clubs is not necessarily needed anymore. Although I have thought about it sometimes. It has been proven in the past that such a step can be ideal. PSV and Feyenoord, for example, play in the Champions League, which is a notch higher. Then more is expected of you."

Smit is an outstanding footballer with a very bright future ahead of him. He would significantly strengthen Ajax; however, even if Ajax wanted him, he would likely be too expensive for the Amsterdam club.

Various reports before the summer transfer window claimed that AZ Alkmaar wanted a fee in the region of €50-60 million for the 20-year-old midfielder. An asking price that high essentially rules out a move to another Eredivisie club, even if Smit were keen on such a transfer.

Smit's current contract with AZ Alkmaar does expire in 2028, which means they may decide to lower their asking price next summer, as he will only have one year left on his contract if he does not sign an extension before then.