Amrabat joins Ajax after revealing long-standing interest from Cruyff

Sofyan Amrabat says Ajax director Jordi Cruyff had already tried to sign him during his time at Barcelona, several years before the midfielder finally moved to the Dutch club.

The 30-year-old has spoken publicly for the first time about his transfer to Ajax, explaining that Cruyff made contact while Amrabat was still playing in La Liga with Betis. The pair had exchanged messages in the past, but a move did not materialise at that stage.

“After a training session at Betis, I received a message from Jordi. I replied to check that it was really him. He called me back immediately. We had a good conversation straight away, for half an hour. From that moment on, we stayed in contact,” Amrabat said on Ajax’s official website.

“I was still surprised by his call. We had already spoken when he was at Barcelona. A transfer did not happen at the time.”

Cruyff, Ajax’s new technical director, began pursuing the midfielder patiently, with their first contact coming in April while Amrabat remained in Spain.

According to Amrabat, Cruyff did not put pressure on him to make an immediate decision. Instead, he outlined his plans for Ajax and allowed the relationship to develop.

“Cruyff did not say to me: ‘You have to sign tomorrow’. But he talked about his plans for Ajax. That made me curious. So we stayed in contact,” Amrabat said.

“The coach also called me later. That was positive as well. In the end, it was clear that Ajax wanted me. That is very important to me.”

Amrabat now hopes to make an immediate contribution, with Ajax preparing to face PSV next week. He said he understood the responsibilities attached to his role in midfield and had been thinking about the fixture for some time.

“I have to make sure that the team is well organised and that my team-mates can use their strengths. I have to provide balance and know when to speed things up or slow things down,” he said.

“I am fit and I am really eager to play. I have been thinking about this Ajax-PSV match for a while. I have not played recently, but I have been training. In the end, the coach will decide. But I am ready.”

Cruyff said Ajax were delighted to secure the midfielder’s signature and believed his physical qualities and experience would help him settle quickly.

“We are delighted to have been able to sign Sofyan. He is physically strong, possesses great footballing talent and has extensive international experience,” Cruyff said.

“In addition, he knows the Dutch league well, so we are convinced that he will adapt quickly. With him, we have exactly the profile we were looking for.”

Amrabat’s arrival therefore represents the completion of a move that had been considered for some time, with the midfielder now waiting for the coach to decide whether he will feature against PSV.