According to ESPN, German center-back Thilo Kehrer signed with Ajax on transfer deadline day. He said: "This is the first time I've experienced something like this. Very excited, and it's different from before. I'm very happy to be here."

Kehrer first heard about Ajax's interest a day earlier. He said: "Everything happened very quickly: first a conversation with Cruyff and the head coach. Then the clubs reached an agreement. The next day, I was on my way."

The new summer signing quickly received a message from his compatriot Marc-André ter Stegen, who was loaned to Ajax from Barcelona. Kehrer said: "I didn't have to ask too many questions. I already knew Ajax well. I used to play for Schalke, which isn't far from here. Everything was already clear."

Kehrer considered joining Ajax for a long time, and ultimately it was the club's ambition that convinced him. He said: "For me, the most important thing is to remain competitive, to challenge for titles, with the ambition of winning trophies and games. This can be achieved here. The foundation is already there; now it's about making it work."

The player who joined from Monaco was quickly impressed by his new working environment. He said: "The scale, the stadium, the atmosphere, and pure football. The club has its own DNA."

Kehrer's contract with Ajax runs until mid-2027. Whether he will continue to stay in Amsterdam after that remains uncertain. He said: "I don't know yet. We'll see how this season develops, but I'm definitely open to the possibility. There are many games before next year; we'll see."

What helped Kehrer adapt faster was that he already knew Caio Henrique and Silvio Pagliari from his time at Monaco. He said: "It's always easier to have acquaintances; they help you integrate. You already have connections. It's nice to see them again. I also know Marc-André ter Stegen and Julian Brandt from playing against them in the Bundesliga and for the German national team."

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