This makes Ajax the first Dutch club to break the magic limit of one hundred million when selling a player. The national champions have always sold Manchester United for a “no” in recent months. Even an offer of €90m was rejected by the Amsterdam-based team just before the end of the week. But this weekend, Eric Ten Hag’s club was on the doorstep once again, with a major breakthrough and Ajax succumbing to Anthony’s departure. The clubs reached a final agreement on Sunday evening.

Anthony preferred to keep Ajax’s technical heart, to keep the chances of a new winter in the Champions League high. Not only was this made more difficult by increased bids from the English giant, the player himself put more pressure on his employer. Anthony skipped Ajax’s field training sessions after the club turned down an initial offer of 80 million. The rebellious Brazil international, who was taken from Sao Paulo for 15.75 million (and six million in potential bonuses) in 2020, was also missing in the Eredivisie matches won by Ajax with Sparta (0-1) and FC Utrecht (0-2). ). ).

Ajax coach Alfred Schroeder, who last week voiced his expectations of retaining Anthony, couldn’t say much about the upcoming move after FC Utrecht – Ajax. “I’ll make it 100 million anyway,” the Ajax coach joked about the amount that would not touch the hundred million euros. Then seriously: I can’t say anything meaningful. You have to tell Jerry that Hamstra and Klas Jan Huntelaar questions.”

Anthony, grew up in the infamous slum Hell From Sao Paulo, he has been reunited at Manchester United with Erik ten Hag, who earlier this summer had already brought Lisandro Martinez from Amsterdam to the north of England. Anthony was still under contract with Ajax until the summer of 2025. In Manchester in the coming days, he will sign a contract until mid-2027, with an option for another season.

Anthony Frinke succeeds de Jong as the most expensive transfer ever in the Eredivisie. He sold Ajax de Jong to Barcelona for 86 million euros. Earlier, among others, Martinez, Sebastian Haller, Nasir Mazraoui, Ryan Gravenberch, Nicolas Tagliafico and Andre Onana left Ajax, who are hoping to attract a replacement in the closing days of the transfer window.