Although Ajax has not managed to sign a defensive midfielder, the club from Amsterdam has managed to secure two absolute opportunities for the backline: Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko. However, there is one risk to their arrival: susceptibility to injury.
With a Skill of 75.0 and 72.9, Ajax has acquired two absolute top reinforcements with Zinchenko and Tomiyasu respectively. The Ukrainian and Japanese have the highest skills in Fred Grim’s selection and – if fit – are without a doubt a reinforcement for the club.
Skill algorithm Ajax
| Player | Skill | Potential |
|---|---|---|
| Oleksandr Zinchenko | 75.0 | 75.8 |
| Takehiro Tomiyasu | 72.9 | 77.1 |
| Itakura | 65.1 | 65.1 |
| Davy Klaassen | 64.5 | 64.5 |
| Oscar Gloukh | 63.8 | 74.9 |
Ajax paid Arsenal a sum of one and a half million euros for the arrival of Zinchenko, while Tomiyasu arrived on a free transfer this winter. The pair signed a contract until next summer in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, with the intention of continuing together for longer. This depends on several factors: Jordi Cruijff’s philosophy, getting in the way of talent and their susceptibility to injuries.
Huge risk for Ajax
In recent seasons, both defenders have missed a large number of games due to injuries. This makes it difficult for Ajax to really rely on these top players, knowing that the risk is greater than with an average other player in Fred Grim’s selection. For example, Zinchenko missed eleven games at Nottingham Forest before the winter break due to two injuries. Not to mention Tomiyasu’s huge list. The last season in particular (2024/25) was a disaster for the Japanese.
Missed games due to injury
| Season | Takehiro Tomiyasu | Oleksandr Zinchenko |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | 6 | 11 |
| 2024/25 | 57 | 14 |
| 2023/24 | 12 | 7 |
| 2022/23 | 18 | 23 |
| 2021/22 | 11 | 12 |
If Ajax manages to keep Tomiyasu and Zinchenko fit with the right guidance from the medical staff, the Amsterdam team will have two absolute top reinforcements. In recent months, the back positions proved to be the Achilles heel in Ajax’s selection, after which the club took appropriate action by picking up two experienced Premier League players. Ajax hopes that both Zinchenko and Tomiyasu will remain fit in the coming months.
