Mar-André ter Stegen and Julian Brandt at Ajax Amsterdam: One scores, the other saves

In the Dutch city of Zwolle, 60 kilometers behind the German border, two well-known German footballers started a new attempt in their advanced careers wearing the Ajax Amsterdam jersey on Sunday: goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, 34, and attacker Julian Brandt, 30, although both had only joined the squad a few days earlier, already played a significant role in Amsterdam’s 2-0 victory at the start of the new season in the Dutch Eredivisie. Ter Stegen made several saves to keep the Amsterdam goal clean, while substitute Brandt scored the goal in stoppage time to make the final score 2-0.

However, it remains to be seen whether Brandt, with his 48 international matches, and Ter Stegen, with his 44, can be recommended for the new beginning of the national team under national coach Jürgen Klopp. Ter Stegen, who was initially on loan from FC Barcelona for a year, had a difficult time recently due to injury, and Brandt’s contract with BVB was not extended after seven years in Dortmund. It was a good thing, as a small, hidden signal of hope, that the remarkable club name of the host Zwolle club PEC (Prins Hendrik Ende Desespereert Nimmer Combinatie) was once created from a merger of the clubs Prins Hendrik and Ende Desespereert Nimmer. Because the latter name means in German: “And never despair!”

Of course, Ajax could also adapt this motto quite well. Amsterdam is still the clear Dutch record champion with 36 championship titles – although the last title to date dates back to 2022. At that time they triumphed under coach Erik ten Hag, but since then they have not been able to win a title under eight different coaches. The Spaniard Michel Sanchez, who came from Girona FC, is now taking responsibility as coach. Sports director is Jordi Cruyff. Brandt knows very well what Ajax is about. “There have been a lot of changes here in the last few years, a lot of sports directors, a lot of coaches,” he said on Sunday on the TV channel ESPN NL: “Now, I think we have a basis on which we can build something.”

Ajax can use the two Germans ter Stegen and Brandt for a comeback, but in return the two also need Ajax and their best teammates, including former Bremen Davy Klaassen, former Gladbacher Ko Itakura and former Salzburg Oscar Gloukh. Brandt wasn’t able to predict on Sunday what was possible with this team. “Difficult,” he said in response to a question about this, but exuded anticipation and, with a certain amount of room for interpretation, decided on his new station Ajax and the contract, which is valid until 2029: “It’s an adventure – but I love it.”

“I want to help bring this traditional club back to where it belongs,” says ter Stegen

Last season Ajax only finished fifth, which is why they now have to play qualifiers for the Conference League. The first leg against FC Shelbourne from Dublin, who were third in Ireland last year, was won 3-1 last Thursday without Ter Stegen in goal and with substitute Brandt. The second leg is on Thursday in Dublin.

For goalkeeper ter Stegen, the most important thing in the next few weeks is to build up match practice and self-confidence again. The former Gladbacher moved to FC Barcelona in 2014 and was a reliable support for the Catalans for many years with many titles. But recently he no longer had a future there under German coach Hansi Flick. At the beginning of 2026, the club loaned him to FC Girona, where ter Stegen suffered a thigh injury after just two games, was no longer able to play at all and also missed the World Cup, where he might have been Germany’s number one goalkeeper.

In Girona, ter Stegen met coach Sanchez, with whom he now works in Amsterdam. About Ajax he says: “I want to help bring this traditional club back to where it belongs.” His Barça colleague Frenkie de Jong, once at Ajax himself, encouraged him to make the move.

“I’m in good shape, extremely fit,” says ter Stegen. He will also need to be in optimal condition to be able to compete with goalkeepers like Noah Atubolu and Dennis Seimen in the German national team. Ter Stegen is making a final attempt and could also cut ties from the past in Amsterdam for this purpose. He has already started with his name. At Ajax he officially only goes by the name Marc ter Stegen. The middle name André was eliminated.