Disappointment for Ajax as deadline day signing is not approved by football federation

Ajax were dealt a blow on Wednesday when they found out that their deadline day transfer for Ghanaian winger Kamaldeen Sulemana was not approved by the international football federation FIFA. The transfer paperwork was handed in too late for the deadline.

“Ajax has just heard from FIFA that the transfer has not been approved. This is a disappointment, but we understand the decision,” Ajax said in a statement. Dutch clubs had until midnight on Monday, September 2, to finalize transfers.

This is a problem for Ajax as they had already sold their left-wingers Steven Bergwijn and Carlos Forbs earlier in the window. Bergwijn was sold to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, while Forbs joined English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers. Young left winger Mika Godts is the only left winger they currently have at the club.

The transfer was agreed with Sulemana’s club, Southampton. It was a loan with a 20 million euro buy option. Ajax initially said they felt they had completed the paperwork in time, but this was not the case.

Rumors are now circulating that Ajax will have to sign a left winger from the free agent market, which consists of players who do not have a club. Left-wingers currently without a club include former Manchester United forward Anthony Martial, former German and Italian league winner Ivan Perisic, or former PEC Zwolle winger Younes Namli, who Ajax had already been linked with last summer.

The Amsterdammers will need reinforcement, especially as they have qualified for the league phase of the UEFA Europa League this season. This means that they will play at least eight matches in that competition in addition to the matches in the Dutch league, the Eredivisie.