Van der Vaart and Jans back Amrabat to fill Ajax holding role

Ajax’s signing of Sofyan Amrabat has received strong approval from Rafael van der Vaart and Ron Jans, who both see the midfielder as a convincing answer to the club’s search for a new number six. Ajax officially presented the 30-year-old on Sunday morning after he arrived from Fenerbahçe on a free transfer and signed a two-year contract.

Speaking on Studio Sport Voetbal, Van der Vaart highlighted Amrabat’s performances for Morocco as well as the character he could add to the squad. The former Ajax player believes the midfielder combines technical quality with a mentality that can inspire commitment from those around him.

Van der Vaart also pointed to the value of having an experienced player willing to hold his position in front of the defence and keep his distribution straightforward. “I believe in this signing,” he said, as reported by FCUpdate, arguing that Amrabat offers the stability Ajax require after a summer in which the club invested heavily and also sold players including Mika Godts and Sean Steur.

Jans was even more emphatic. He recalled facing Amrabat when his FC Twente side met Fiorentina in Europe, a tie in which the Moroccan operated as the holding midfielder and helped the Italian club narrowly progress. That experience left a lasting impression on Jans, who suggested Amrabat could become the number six for Ajax.