GOAL examined Julian Brandt's start to his first season at Ajax, focusing on why he has eight goals but no assists in 2026/27. Brandt has scored eight times in 15 appearances across all competitions and has not registered an assist in 2026/27.
Goals and assists
Brandt has not registered an assist in 2026/27. On matchday eight, he created eight chances in the 1-1 draw against NEC Nijmegen.
GOAL's view of his role
GOAL said Brandt plays as the most advanced of Ajax's three midfielders in their customary 4-3-3. GOAL said Brandt still creates chances for his team-mates in front of goal at Ajax, but they have not turned his passes into goals.
GOAL said the rest of the Ajax side created five chances against NEC Nijmegen. GOAL said Brandt has been Ajax's best chance creator in the Eredivisie so far.
Team-mates and transfer context
GOAL said Marcos Leonardo was signed from Al-Hilal in the summer for just under €20 million. GOAL said Leonardo has repeatedly failed to take big chances created by Brandt.
Brandt joined Ajax in the summer after Borussia Dortmund did not offer him a new contract. Brandt said Ajax was the best option for him compared with the other options he had, and he said he was without a club for around a month before joining Ajax.
Brandt and Van der Vaart comments
GOAL said Rafael van der Vaart had been sceptical of Brandt at first and now calls him "Ajax's best player".
Brandt said on the 'Spielmacher' podcast: "Last time, when he said something different, I was confronted with that a lot too. I don't know, I'm always like: 'Just leave me alone with that rubbish,'"
Brandt said: "For me, the question this summer was: where am I best off? And is this the best club now, compared with other top leagues in Europe? Others can judge that. But it's the best for me, compared with the other options I would have had. So, for me, it remains the right decision."
He added: "I made the decision a little late, logically, because sometimes you wait to see how a few things develop, but I made it wholeheartedly."