Defender Daley Blind is leaving Manchester United and returning to his boyhood club Ajax in a transfer of historic proportions. According to Dutch media outlet De Telegraaf, the club will reportedly pay a transfer fee worth an initial €16m, with a sum that could rise to a maximum of €21m in add-ons, and thus make him the most expensive player ever obtained by an Eredivisie side.
De Telegraaf’s Mike Verweij reports that Blind’s deal will be for a duration of four years.
Looks like Daley Blind on his way out of Man Utd. Won’t be the last. https://t.co/r2vR1FbGTR
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) July 13, 2018
Blind, a Dutch international, previously spent four years with the Ajax senior club before moving over to United four summers ago. He is the first United player to depart Old Trafford this summer, with fellow defender Matteo Darmian expected to be the next.
There had been talk of selling both Blind and Darmian for quite some time, but United are well aware of how expensive replacement players will be and thus seek all they can get in return.
Daley Blind was brought over under Louis van Gaal, and he was a favorite for selection by his country man. However, he didn’t fit into Jose Mourinho’s plans.
Blind made 141 appearances for United across all competitions, seeing time at center-back, left-back and midfield.
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