FORMER Tottenham flop Steven Bergwijn has left Europe for Saudi Arabia.
The Ajax forward will join up with ex-Premier League stars Fabinho and N’Golo Kante at Al-Ittihad.
The Saudi Pro League outfit has signed Bergwijn, 26, for a fee worth £17.7million.
Al-Ittihad was able to continue transfer business over the weekend despite the English transfer window closing on Friday.
The Saudi Pro League transfer window slammed shut last night but the club were able to seal the deal before it shut.
Ajax confirmed Bergwijn’s departure and transfer fee three years before his contract was due to expire.
A club statement confirmed: “Ajax and Al-Ittihad have reached an agreement on the transfer of Steven Bergwijn.
“The winger’s contract with Ajax was due to run until 30 June 2027.
“Ajax will receive a transfer fee of over €21million (£17.7m) from the Saudi Arabian club.”
Technical director Alex Kroes said: “Steven and Ajax have made no secret of the fact that, if a good offer came from abroad, he would make the move.
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“That has now happened at the last minute, giving the club the necessary financial flexibility to hopefully bring in a suitable replacement in the short term.
“We have wished our captain from last season much success in the next stage of his career.”
The forward appears to be Al-Ittihad’s backup choice after the club had a loan bid rejected for Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard.
Bergwijn joined Ajax in 2022 from Tottenham and went on to make 80 appearances for the club, scoring 29 goals.
During his two-and-a-half years at Spurs, he managed just eight goals in 83 appearances in all competitions.
Bergwijn had been continuously linked back with a move to the Premier League after rediscovering his form in Holland.
West Ham and Southampton were named as potential destinations, but he has opted to switch to Saudi Arabia.
He will now be playing under French legend Laurent Blanc and line-up alongside the likes of Karim Benzema, Moussa Diaby and Houssem Aouar.
