Defender Dailey Blind Leaves Manchester United

 

 

Ajax have completed the £14 million ($19m) signing of Daley Blind from Manchester United, the Premier League club have confirmed.

 

The Netherlands international moved to Old Trafford from the Dutch side in 2014 and went on to make 141 appearances for the Red Devils, winning the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the Europa League.

 

He has now returned to his homeland and will be hoping to add to the four Eredivisie titles he won during his initial stay at the club.

An agreement between Ajax and United was initially announced on Monday, with it expected that Blind will be signing a deal through to 2022 with the Amsterdam-based outfit.

 

At 28 years of age, he should be at the peak of his powers and will be hoping to deliver his best on a consistent basis back in the Netherlands.

 

He has been unable to do that in recent seasons, with Jose Mourinho having often favoured other options since taking the managerial reins at Old Trafford in 2016.

 

Blind was, however, to prove a useful asset for United throughout his time at the club, with his versatility allowing him to cover a number of different positions.

 

He figured at centre-half, left-back and holding midfield for the Red Devils, with his most productive season in England proving to be the 2015-16 campaign under Louis van Gaal in which he made 35 Premier League starts.

 

There were just 12 months left to run on his contract at Old Trafford heading into this summer and a move to pastures new had been mooted for some time.

 

Ajax have now got their man, with Blind ready to open a new chapter in his career after four enjoyable seasons in the English top-flight. Ajax finished the 2017-18 campaign four points adrift of Eredivisie champions PSV and will be desperate to recapture the crown this season.

 

They also have another European campaign to look forward to, with their Champions League efforts set to open at the second qualifying round.