Ajax Announce Capture Of 12-Goal International

Ajax have confirmed the acquisition of Dutch striker Wout Weghorst from English outfit Burnley.

The 32-year-old forward has signed a contract with Ajax to keep him at the Johan Cruyff Arena until June 2026. The transfer fee remains undisclosed. Weghorst originally joined Burnley from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in 2022. While at Turf Moor, he was loaned out to Manchester United, Besiktas, and TSG Hoffenheim.

An experienced international, Weghorst has earned 39 caps for the Netherlands since making his debut against England in 2018 and has found the net 12 times for his country. He was a part of the squad eliminated from Euro 2024 by England this summer.

“Wout stands for an absolute top sports experience, and we find that extremely important at Ajax,” Ajax technical director Alex Kroes told the club’s website. “He is a prolific striker who constantly makes things difficult for every opponent.

“There are many matches coming up in the next few months, so we are happy that Wout is joining us.”

The move sees him return to the Eredivisie for the first time since 2018, when he left AZ as the joint-third top scorer in the Eredivisie with 18 goals, for a fee believed to be around €10.5 million (£8.8 million).

He joins an Ajax side looking to reassert themselves in the Dutch top flight after finishing fifth last season, their worst return since the turn of the century. That ensures a second season without Champions League football, their worst run in over a decade, and they’re only ninth in the early table this season, having last 2-1 to NAC Breda in their second game.

Site Opinion

The clubs in the Eredivisie attract exciting young players, but Weghorst is more of a stalwart than a bundle of energy. Along with Jordan Henderson, there’s perhaps a ‘Dad’s Army’ feel to their side from an English perspective, and little surprise they struggled last season.

However, this could be a big capture. Weghorst is a regular for his country, and there’s an air of Ediz Dzeko or Olivier Giroud about him—players written off in England with plenty to prove. It will be interesting to see how the move pans out.