Ajax most expensive signings – How Eredivisie giants spent over €560m on incoming transfers

Exactly how much money have the Amsterdam giants spent on new players in this millennium?

Ajax are well-known for a number of different things.

There's their incredible academy, which has produced players such as Matthijs de Ligt, Ryan Gravenberch and Jurrien Timber in recent years just to name a few.

Then there's their desire to always play free-flowing attacking football, which has earned them plenty of success both domestically and in Europe.

And they're also very much known as a selling club, a team that is the perfect stepping stone towards one of Europe's current heavyweights. Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez and Antony are the most recent examples of that.

Maybe somewhat surprisingly, however, they are also not shy when it comes to spending money!

In the summer of 2022 alone they spent over €100 million to strengthen their squad.

But which players have cost them the most in recent seasons and who are their most-expensive signings ever?

Ajax most expensive transfers by season

Ajax top 10 most expensive player signings

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  10Edson Alvarez | €15m | America | 2019

  Ajax signed Alvarez in the summer of 2019, paying €15 million for his signature from Club America.

  The Mexico international signed a five-year contract and was initially often played at centre-back following the departure of Matthijs de Ligt, only to be moved into a holding midfield role eventually.

  In 2021, Alvarez signed a contract extension at Ajax until 2025 and in April 2022, he was inducted in Ajax's Club van 100 after making his 100th appearance for the club in all competitions in a 3-0 win over PEC Zwolle, becoming the 174th player in the club's history to do so.

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  9Quincy Promes | €15.70m | Sevilla | 2019

  Promes came through the ranks at Twente and transferred to Spartak Moscow in 2014 for €11.50 million.

  Four years down the line, he moved to Sevilla in a €21m deal, but he lasted just one season in Spain, before Ajax came calling, signing him for €15.70m.

  After two seasons with Ajax, Promes joined Spartak Moscow in a €8.50m move in 2021.

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  8Antony | €15.75m | Sao Paulo | 2020

  Ajax signed Antony for €15.75 million from Sao Paolo in February 2020 in a deal that took effect from July 2020.

  The winger made his debut against Sparta in September 2020, scoring the only goal in Ajax's away win.

  In his more than two years at Ajax, Antony made 57 appearances, scoring 18 goals for them before Manchester United splashed the cash in the summer of 2022, paying a humongous €95m fee for the Brazilian.

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  7Daley Blind | €16m | Manchester United | 2018

  After following his father's footsteps and beginning his career at youth level at Ajax, Blind went on to feature for six years at the club after making his senior debut in 2008.

  102 appearances later, Manchester United came calling, agreeing to pay €17.50 million to Ajax for the defender.

  Blind had a bit of a mixed time at Old Trafford, where he stayed for four years, making 90 appearances before returning back to Ajax for a fee of €16m.