The Dutch giants have strengthened all parts of their squad over the summer – and now another piece is in place. Simon Adingra is ready for Ajax, and with that, Míchel (whose full name is Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz) gets a team that can challenge for anything.
Adingra in place – with an option to buy
Ajax have completed the transfer of Simon Adingra, a 24-year-old winger, from Sunderland. The deal is a one-year loan deal with an option to buy – and the sum for a possible permanent purchase is set at €16 million. Sunderland will also receive just over €3 million for the loan period.
Read: After no from Villa and Dortmund, a club appears that matches Manchester United’s salary
The purpose is clear: Adingra will fill the void left by Mika Godts, who was sold to PSG. The Ivory Coast international is coming off a season split between Sunderland and AS Monaco, where he played a total of 34 games, scored 4 goals and provided 3 assists.
Adingra has a contract with Sunderland until 2030. The English paid around €25 million to Brighton in the summer of 2025 to sign him, but he struggled to establish himself – and was loaned out to Monaco in the second half of the season. There, he recorded 3 goals and 3 assists in 14 games.
Ajax won the battle for the signature against strong competitors such as RB Leipzig and AS Monaco.
Loan agreement with control
With this deal, Ajax will have full control over Adingra’s future without committing to a permanent purchase now. The loan costs around €3.8 million – including salary and loan fees. The €16 million purchase option gives the club the option to make the transfer permanent if he delivers the goods.
Several new faces in Míchel’s squad
Adingra is far from the only new piece at Ajax this summer. Míchel has received several signings that lift the team’s experience and breadth:
🧤 Marc-André ter Stegen – on loan from Barcelona until 2027. The experienced German goalkeeper, 34, has 423 appearances for Barcelona and knows Míchel from a previous loan spell at Girona.
⚽ Marcos Leonardo – brought in from Al-Hilal for approximately 20 million euros.
🇩🇪 Julian Brandt – arrived as a free agent after his contract with Borussia Dortmund expired.
In addition, a deal is being worked on for Thilo Kehrer – and with Adingra already in place, Míchel’s squad is starting to take shape.
Next challenge: PSV away
With several new weapons in their arsenal, a tough test awaits the new Ajax. On Saturday 5 September, they face arch-rivals PSV Eindhoven away in the Eredivisie – a match that already promises to be an early litmus test for Míchel’s newly built squad.
Read: Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Real Madrid keep a close eye on Martín Zubimendi’s mood
