Ajax confirm season-ending injury for recent signing Oleksandr Zinchenko
Ajax have been dealt a blow with the news that their new signing, Oleksandr Zinchenko, will miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury. The Ukrainian picked up an injury within a few minutes of his first start for the club on Saturday against Fortuna Sittard. The club has now said that an MRI scan has shown that he will need an operation.
“Examination at the hospital has shown that surgery is required. This will take place in the near future. The 29-year-old Ukraine international will then face a lengthy rehabilitation period, which means he will not play again this season,” the club said on its website.
Zinchenko was signed on February 1 from the English club Arsenal. Ajax spent 5 million euros on the Ukrainian, who had spent the previous six months on loan at Nottingham Forest. Zinchenko’s contract runs until June 30.
He was signed due to his experience at the highest level, Ajax said. Due to his injury, the club now once again only has Owen Wijndal for the position. Previously, this led to Ajax interim manager Fred Grim having to play midfielder Jorthy Mokio there.
Zinchenko made just two league appearances for Ajax this season, playing a total of 20 minutes.
Ajax are currently in a battle for second place in the Dutch top division, the Eredivisie. Grim’s side beat Fortuna 4-1 on Saturday, putting them in third place with a three-point gap behind Feyenoord. NEC can also climb over the Amsterdammers if they defeat Sparta Rotterdam in a rescheduled game on Tuesday.
Zinchenko will also miss the FIFA World Cup if Ukraine were to qualify, the AD reported. The Ukrainians play in the semi-finals of the playoffs for the tournament hosted in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, on March 26 against Sweden. They would have to win this and then win the final of the play-offs against either Poland or Albania to reach the competition.
