REAL MADRID’S pursuit of Klaas Jan Huntelaar ended in success last night when they agreed a fee with Ajax for the Holland striker that could rise to £23m.
Both the Amsterdammers and the Spanish champions announced a deal had been struck to allow Huntelaar – a long-time target for the Spanish side – to join Madrid.
The deal brings to an end months of speculation linking the 25-year-old with a move to the Spanish capital, talk which mounted further following the injury to Madrid’s fellow Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who will be sidelined until the end of the season.
Real are currently fourth in the table, six points behind leaders and fierce rivals Barcelona.
In a statement released on the Real website, the club confirmed the signing saying: ‘‘Huntelaar is a new Real Madrid player. Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam have reached an agreement for the forward.
‘‘As is normal, the deal is dependent on the player passing a medical and the signing of his contract with Real Madrid. Klaas Jan Huntelaar will be tied to Real Madrid until June 30, 2013.’’ The deal will earn Dutch club Heerenveen around £2m as part of the agreement when Ajax bought the player in 2005.
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