Eintracht Frankfurt have identified Anton Gaaei as a potential replacement for Rasmus Nissen Kristensen, who has already moved to FC Midtjylland in a Danish reshuffle that could soon send another defender from Amsterdam toward Germany.
Frankfurt's interest in the 23-year-old comes at a pivot point for both clubs. Gaaei is one of 21 players sanctioned to leave Ajax this summer as technical director Jordi Cruyff executes a wide-ranging rebuild. Cruyff is targeting as many as 15 new first-team signings, and clearing outgoing stock is central to financing that overhaul.
For Gaaei, the timing reflects a mixed three-year spell in Amsterdam. He joined from Viborg in 2023 for a fee of €4.5 million and has since made 111 appearances for Ajax, scoring seven goals and supplying 11 assists. During the 2025-26 season alone, he featured in 37 matches across all competitions with three goals and five assists.
Regular starting minutes, however, did not translate into team success. Ajax finished fifth in the Eredivisie last term, equalling their joint-worst points return in top-flight history. Gaaei was often in the starting XI, yet the broader squad struggled, and the club now appears ready to move on.
The Danish connection runs deeper than one transfer. Kristensen's exit to Midtjylland created the vacancy Eintracht Frankfurt hope Gaaei can fill on the left of their defence. Gaaei developed at Viborg before his Ajax switch, meaning this saga stitches together three clubs across Denmark and the Netherlands with Frankfurt now positioned to benefit.
From Frankfurt's perspective, Gaaei offers established Eredivisie minutes, set-piece contribution, and an age profile suited to a long-term solution at Deutsche Bank Park. From Ajax's perspective, a sale would help balance books and accelerate squad turnover under Cruyff.
Gaaei's listing among Ajax's outbound group underscores how aggressively the Amsterdam side are trimming a roster that underperformed domestically. With multiple departments requiring refresh, Frankfurt may face competition if other suitors view the defender's availability as a market opportunity rather than a warning sign about his Ajax form.
No deal is confirmed, but the outlines are clear: Frankfurt need a left-back, Gaaei is available, and Ajax are actively shopping as the summer window develops.
