Ajax complete another transfer after Kaplan and save as much as €700,000 in wages

Ajax are set to free up more room in their wage budget. Don-Angelo Konadu is heading to SK Lommel on loan, Belgian sources have told De Telegraaf.

Konadu’s temporary move will reportedly save Ajax around €700,000 in wages. The 20-year-old striker has made 17 appearances for the first team so far, scoring once and registering three assists.

The youth international spent much of his development in Ajax’s academy after being spotted at Zeeburgia. Lommel are expected to give him more minutes, while his departure also gives Ajax extra financial breathing space.

On top of that, Ahmetcan Kaplan’s salary will also soon come off the books. NEC are still set to sign the defender for a fixed fee of €2.5 million, which can rise through bonuses to a maximum of €3 million. Ajax will therefore also remove his €1.3 million salary from their wage bill.

For Jordi Cruijff to strengthen the squad further, the supervisory board first want the wage bill cut.

During this transfer window, Ajax have sold about €95 million worth of players, including Mika Godts' move to Paris Saint-Germain. The Amsterdam club have spent just over €30 million in transfer fees so far.

Meanwhile, wage costs have gone up because of several free transfers and loan arrivals. Ajax therefore also hope to move on Owen Wijndal, Josip Sutalo, Ko Itakura and Kasper Dolberg before the transfer window shuts, creating even more space in the wage structure.

Some of that space already seems to be there for Jofre Torrents. Ajax are signing the left-back on a free transfer from FC Barcelona, but agreements have been made over performance-related bonuses that could take the total amount to just under €6 million if certain targets are met.