Julian Brandt’s Ajax Start: Goals, Chances and the Assist Statistic Explained
Julian Brandt has made an impressive start to life at Ajax, quickly becoming one of the Amsterdam club’s most influential players. The German midfielder has scored regularly, helped shape Ajax’s attacking play and even won over former critic Rafael van der Vaart. Yet one statistic appears to tell a different story: despite his creative reputation, Brandt has not recorded an assist in the 2026/27 season.
That number may look surprising, particularly for a player who built much of his reputation in the Bundesliga as a provider. But it does not necessarily mean Brandt has stopped creating chances. Rather, Ajax’s finishing problems have left his attacking contribution underrepresented in the box score.
Eight Goals, but No Ajax Assist Yet
Brandt has scored eight goals in 15 appearances for Ajax across all competitions, a strong return for a midfielder. The 30-year-old, who previously played for Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, has long possessed a threat in front of goal. His ability to arrive in dangerous areas, combine quickly and strike from distance has added another dimension to Ajax’s attack.
At the same time, Brandt has traditionally been valued for his vision and passing. In Germany, he often supplied the final ball that allowed forwards to finish. That makes his lack of assists in 2026/27 an eye-catching detail, especially because he usually operates as the most advanced midfielder in Ajax’s 4-3-3 formation.
There are contextual factors behind his scoring figures. Ajax compete in the Eredivisie and the UEFA Conference League, competitions that differ in pace and defensive demands from the Bundesliga and Champions League. But the absence of an assist is better explained by what happens after Brandt creates an opportunity: too often, his teammates have not converted it.
Ajax’s Finishing Has Obscured Brandt’s Creativity
Brandt continues to make passes that put Ajax attackers in promising positions. The clearest example is Marcos Leonardo, the Brazilian striker signed from Al-Hilal for just under €20 million in the summer. Brandt has played him through on goal on several occasions, but Leonardo has yet to turn those one-on-one opportunities into goals.
That is not an isolated issue. Ajax have created promising openings but have often needed too many chances to find the net. Missed opportunities can affect a team’s results, but they also influence how individual performances are judged. A perfectly weighted pass only becomes an assist if the next player scores.
The difference between chance creation and recorded assists was particularly clear in Ajax’s 1-1 draw with NEC Nijmegen on matchday eight. Brandt created eight chances in that match—more than the rest of his team managed combined, with Ajax’s other players producing five. Across the Eredivisie season, he has been the club’s leading chance creator by a considerable margin.
That record suggests the assist column is not a reliable measure of his overall influence. Brandt is still providing the service expected of an attacking midfielder; the missing element has been consistent finishing from the players receiving the ball. If Ajax become more clinical, his creative work could soon translate into a string of assists.
From Dortmund Departure to a Fresh Start in Amsterdam
Brandt’s move to Ajax followed a significant turning point in his career. Borussia Dortmund did not offer him a new contract, opening the door to a summer transfer and a new challenge outside the Bundesliga. After spending around a month without a club, he ultimately chose Amsterdam after weighing up his available options.
Brandt has said that the decision came later than expected because he wanted to see how other situations developed. Even so, he made the choice wholeheartedly. He has also described Ajax as the best fit for him among the options available, while leaving others to assess how the club compares with leading teams in Europe’s other major leagues.
So far, the move has given him a prominent role and the freedom to influence matches in several ways. He has scored spectacular goals, helped dictate the tempo and shown the technical quality that made him a highly regarded Bundesliga player. For Ajax, his combination of experience and attacking instinct could prove valuable as the season develops.
Rafael van der Vaart Changes His View
One of the clearest signs of Brandt’s impact is the change in opinion from Rafael van der Vaart. The former Ajax star had been sceptical about the German’s arrival, but he has since described Brandt as “Ajax’s best player.” The praise reflects how quickly the midfielder has become central to the team’s performances.
Brandt, however, has not made a major issue of the former midfielder’s approval. Speaking on the Spielmacher podcast, he said he was not especially interested in revisiting the discussion, noting that he had also been confronted with van der Vaart’s earlier criticism. His response suggests he would rather focus on his football than on outside commentary.
What to Expect: A Positive Prediction for Brandt
Brandt’s early Ajax numbers point to a player who is contributing more than his assist total suggests. Eight goals in 15 appearances show that he can finish attacks himself, while his chance-creation figures demonstrate that he remains an effective provider. The key question is not whether he can create opportunities, but whether Ajax’s forwards can make better use of them.
If Leonardo and the rest of the attack improve their conversion rate, an increase in Brandt’s assists looks likely. That is the most reasonable prediction based on his current role and the quality of chances he is producing. Ajax will need greater efficiency in front of goal if they are to make the most of his creativity and turn promising performances into consistent results.
For now, Brandt’s first season in Amsterdam is already shaping up as a successful fresh start. The missing assist may attract attention, but it does not erase his influence. As Ajax’s attack finds its rhythm, the statistics could soon catch up with the football he is already playing.
