Ajax reach verbal agreement and have secured the desired defensive reinforcement

Thilo Kehrer will spend the rest of the season at Ajax. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on X on Tuesday, with his trademark 'here we go', that the Amsterdam club have reached a verbal agreement with AS Monaco over the defender.

Kehrer is joining on loan from Monaco and, according to Romano, has already signed the deal. The medical also threw up no issues for the 28-cap Germany international.

Algemeen Dagblad had already reported earlier on Tuesday that Kehrer was a leading candidate to strengthen the defence. Ajax will reportedly pay a loan fee of two million euros and the clubs have not agreed an option to buy.

The 29-year-old is under contract with AS Monaco until mid-2028, but had to settle for a place on the bench in the opening league matches.

Ajax and Monaco still have to officially confirm the loan deal. White smoke is expected from Amsterdam soon.

Able to play at centre-back and right-back, Kehrer also brings plenty of experience. The German came through the youth academies of VfB Stuttgart and Schalke 04 before earning a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Then, in 2022, Kehrer joined West Ham United before initially moving to Monaco on loan two years later. The French club then signed him permanently. He has also made 28 appearances for the German national team during his career.