Ajax complete Aissati swoop

Midfielder departs Dutch champions

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 21st July 2008

Ajax complete Aissati swoop

Aissati: Hot prospect

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Ajax have signed Dutch Under 21 international Ismail Aissati for an undisclosed fee from Eredivisie rivals PSV Eindhoven.

The 19-year-old, who is held in high regard throughout his homeland, has signed a four-year deal with the Amsterdam club.

Ajax had attempted to sign the youngster midway through last season, but were warned off the midfielder by PSV officials.

However, Aissati has now completed the protracted move and is looking forward to attempting to fill the void left by Wesley Sneijder, after the talented playmaker left for Real Madrid last summer.

Quality

"Ajax are an interesting club," he said.

"Why shouldn't I play there? I don't want to go abroad yet, but want to keep playing at the same level of quality."

Aissati had only one year remaining on his contract at Philips Stadion and had been a member of the first-team fold for almost three years.

He is the youngest player to have featured in the UEFA Champions League for PSV, and was a member of the Dutch U21 squads which claimed back-to-back European Championship triumphs in 2006 and 2007.