AZ LAND MEERDINK

The midfielder, who remained at De Graaf after failing to win a move to Udinese last summer, has agreed to join AZ for the start of the 2002/03 season following successful negotiations on Monday.

Meerdink had a clause in his contract which allowed him to leave in the summer if a bid of ‚é¼900.000 was tabled, and AZ have used this to land their man.

De Graaf were keen to keep the 25-year-old and offered him a new deal, but AZ have the most financial might in the Eredivisie, outside of the big three of Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord, and placed a lucrative contract in front Meerdink.

Twente were reportedly interested but dropped out of the chase when made aware that AZ chairman Dirk Scheringa had sanctioned a hefty offer.

Meerdink has put his name to a five-year contract and is sure to have landed a substantial wage rise to join the ambitious AZ squad.