Ajax confirmed the departure of Donny van de Beek to Manchester United on Wednesday. The midfielder makes the switch to ‘The Red Devils’ for 39 million euros (excluding bonuses) and signs a five-year contract there.
Van de Beek, who will be playing with shirt number 34 as a tribute to former teammate Abdelhak Nouri, has included an option for a sixth season in his contract. The transfer fee can even rise to 44 million euros via bonuses.
“I don’t know where to begin to explain how incredible it is to have a chance at a club with such a great history,” he said on the website from Manchester United. “I am ready to take the next step in my career and play at the highest level. There is no bigger stage than United.”
For some time it looked as if Van de Beek would no longer play in Ajax’s shirt next season. The Orange-international, who was previously associated with Real Madrid, did not participate in the exhibition game against Eintracht Frankfurt (2-1 win) last Saturday due to transfer problems.
Van de Beek’s contract with Ajax continued until mid-2022. The midfielder born in Nijkerkerveen started in 2008 in the youth academy of the team from Amsterdam and made his official debut in the main force at the end of 2015. He played a total of 175 official duels for Ajax and scored 41 times.
Van de Beek third basic force to leave Ajax
In the 2018/2019 season, Van de Beek experienced his peak by conquering the national title and the TOTO KNVB Cup with Ajax and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, followed by the victory of the Johan Cruijff Scale. In 2017, Van de Beek already participated as a substitute in the lost Europa League final against United.
Van de Beek is already the third permanent employee to leave Ajax. Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea) and Joël Veltman (Brighton & Hove Albion) also opted for a foreign adventure earlier. Left back Nicolás Tagliafico and goalkeeper André Onana are also still associated with a transfer.
For Manchester United, Van de Beek is the first major purchase for next season. The ten-time international becomes a teammate of fellow countryman Timothy Fosu-Mensah at the Premier League club.
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