It was wrong from the start. Ajax and Sivert Mannsverk were not a good combination. – After a lot of back and forth, Ajax agreed with Czech top club Sparta Prague on a loan for the Norwegian defensive midfielder.
Crucial to the agreement is said to have been praise from Markus Solbakken about the environment and opportunities in the Czech Republic. Sparta Prague welcomes Dukla Prague to a city derby at Generali Arena in the 1st League.
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Årdølen was frozen out at Ajax and clearly has no future at the club. The transfer is initially a loan for the rest of the season for Mannsverk, who has not been able to train with Ajax’s first team this summer. The club naturally wanted to sell the Norwegian as they do not intend to let him out on the turf.
“Sivert is a midfielder with a good overview both offensively and defensively. He caught our attention already during his time in Molde,” says Sparta Prague’s sporting director in a press release.
Mannsverk has been linked to Hollywood club Wrexham throughout the summer, but according to VG, the Championship club never made concrete offers. One challenge has been that Ajax wanted to get back the money they paid for Mannsverk in 2023. Now it ends with a loan instead.
Earlier in the week, Telegraaf reported that Italian club Lecce were also interested in the midfielder.
Mannsverk moved from Molde to Ajax in 2023, but has struggled with injuries at the Dutch big club. This winter, he played on loan for Cardiff, where he made 14 appearances in the Championship.
Sparta Prague won 2 – 0 on Thursday Conference League playoff against FC Riga in a double header.
Short:
- Loan agreement until the end of the season
- Will be teammates with Markus Solbakken
- Ajax wanted to sell, but couldn’t find a buyer
- Previously linked to Wrexham and Lecce
