Ajax technical director Jordi Cruyff believes the Amsterdam club have significantly reduced the gap to PSV following an ambitious summer transfer window but insists there is still work to do before his side can challenge consistently for every major prize.

PSV are preparing for their first major test of the 2026/27 Eredivisie campaign when Peter Bosz’s side travel to the Johan Cruijff Arena on Saturday evening. The match, scheduled for 8pm, is the first top clash of the new league season and comes just days after the Dutch transfer window closed.

PSV’s summer recruitment gathered pace relatively late. After Sven Mijnans arrived at the beginning of July, the club remained quiet for a period before adding Kodai Sano, Filip Kostic, Lutsharel Geertruida, Sami Ouaissa, Ayoni Santos, Sam Lammers, Mikkel Bro Hansen and Lyfe Oldenstam.

Ajax, meanwhile, were considerably more active. Cruyff brought in several new players, including Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Julian Brandt, as the Amsterdam club aimed to mount a serious challenge for the Eredivisie title.

For Cruyff, this recruitment has helped Ajax close the gap with the reigning champions.

Asked by ESPN whether Ajax had filled the gap to PSV during the summer, Cruyff pointed to the different circumstances surrounding both clubs.

“Do you feel like you filled the gap this summer?”

“Well, I think we have been working in a process. So I think it is fairly filled in. To what extent, we don't know. PSV also lost a few players; that's part of Dutch football. They have built stability and a certain core,” Cruyff replied as quoted by PSV Inside.

The former footballer acknowledged that Ajax themselves have undergone a substantial transformation and that the new-look squad will need time to fully settle.

“For us, it has really changed radically. That has always needed a bit more time, but the season is long. We just need to keep working every week to get better,” he continued.

Despite the changes still required, Cruyff believes Ajax have made real progress and should now be competing for the biggest honours.

“In any case, we need to be able to fight for everything, I think. Of course, there are still areas for improvement. We haven't been able to do everything in one window, that's true. That's normal, but I do think that we have taken a step in the right direction,” Cruyff concluded.

The first opportunity to measure that progress comes on Saturday, when Ajax welcome PSV to Amsterdam in a fixture that could provide an early indication of how much the balance of power has shifted after a busy summer for both clubs.