Saudi Arabia: Al-Ittihad sign Netherlands winger Bergwijn from Ajax

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad Football Club have signed winger Steven Bergwijn from Ajax Amsterdam FC, both clubs said on Monday. The Saudi Pro League side will pay more than €21 million ($23.25m) for the 26-year-old, whose contract with the Dutch club was valid until June 2027, said Ajax.

The Netherlands international joined Ajax from Tottenham Hotspur in July 2022 for €31.25m, becoming the most expensive transfer in Eredivisie history.

“Steven and Ajax have made no secret of the fact that, if a good offer came from abroad, he would make the move,” Ajax technical director Alex Kroes explained on the club website. “That has now happened at the last minute, giving the club the necessary financial flexibility to hopefully bring in a suitable replacement in the short term.”

Bergwijn won the Dutch top flight three times with PSV Eindhoven between 2015 and 2018. He represented the Netherlands 35 times, scoring eight goals, having made his debut in October 2018 in a 3-0 win over Germany in the UEFA Nations League.

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