Ajax can sell Sutalo next year for a maximum of €15 million

Ajax have completed the paperwork for Josip Sutalo's departure, De Telegraaf reported on Thursday. Lazio will cover his full €2.5 million salary and pay Ajax a loan fee of €500,000.

The Italian club have also secured an option to buy for €7.5 million. Easily achievable bonuses could push that fee to between €12 million and €15 million. Ajax have also agreed a ten per cent sell-on clause.

Journalist Gianluca Di Marzio had already reported interest from Rome on Tuesday. The move then gathered pace, with an agreement already close a day later. Di Marzio had mentioned a loan fee of €3 million, but the figures are therefore different.

Back in the summer of 2023, then technical director Sven Mislintat brought Sutalo to Amsterdam for €22 million. The centre-back made a difficult start in the Netherlands but recovered under Francesco Farioli.

At Lazio, the Croatian defender will link up again with former team-mate Kenneth Taylor. He made the move six months ago for €20 million.

Earlier on Thursday, Ajax announced that Ko Itakura is returning to Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Amsterdam club are reportedly due to receive €5 million from the sale of the Japanese player.

That leaves Aaron Bouwman as the only remaining right-footed central defender after the sales of Sutalo and Itakura.