Heitinga agrees Atletico move

Dutchman to sign five-year deal

Last updated: 25th March 2008

Heitinga agrees Atletico move

Heitinga: Atletico-bound

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Ajax defender Johnny Heitinga has revealed he is set to join Atletico Madrid.

The Dutch international has agreed a five-year deal with the Spanish outfit after Atletico met the release clause in his contract.

Heitinga is thought have a buy-out clause of €10million and Atletico have activated the clause by meeting the price.

Atletico tried to sign Heitinga during the January transfer window and the 24-year-old is excited at the prospect of moving to the Spanish capital.

"I'm thrilled. This is a fantastic next step in my career and I will miss Ajax unbelievably," Heitinga told De Telegraaf.

Second home

"I have been here since I was seven years old. This is my second home.

"I hope and expect everyone will really support me in this choice."

Ajax technical director Martin van Geel said the club understood why Heitinga decided to move on after 17 years at the Dutch giants.

Pity
"It is a pity, but also understandable, that a player who has played for Ajax for 17 years wants to play somewhere else," van Geel told De Telegraaf.

"We have tried for months to keep him in Amsterdam. Most times players leave Ajax just when they have reached their best, just like Wesley Sneijder last year."