Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko has reportedly arrived in Amsterdam ahead of completing his permanent transfer to Ajax.

The two clubs have agreed on a €1.5 million deal, which could rise if Ajax qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Zinchenko, 31, was initially set to join Ajax on loan. However, Dutch law prevents non-EU players earning under €260,000 from obtaining a work permit, prompting both sides to negotiate a permanent move instead. The deal took time to finalise, with Arsenal unwilling to cover the majority of Zinchenko’s wages following the termination of his contract. Ajax set a deadline, requiring clarity before Friday evening.

Arsenal eventually agreed, allowing Zinchenko to travel to Amsterdam on Friday. He is expected to undergo a medical and sign a six-month contract on the same day.

The short-term deal gives Ajax the option to evaluate the Ukrainian left-back further over the summer, when technical director Jordi Cruyff—who officially starts at the club on February 1—will have assessed his fit within the squad.

Bringing Experience to Ajax
Zinchenko, a 75-time Ukrainian international, will be Ajax’s fourth winter signing, joining Takehiro Tomiyasu, Maximilian Ibrahimovic, and Paulo da Silva. The left-back is expected to provide interim manager Fred Grim with the experience and quality he sought during this mid-season period.

Zinchenko spent the last six months on loan at Nottingham Forest but made just five Premier League appearances. The former Manchester City player, who joined Arsenal in 2022, has played 150 Premier League games and is familiar with Dutch football from his loan spell at PSV in the 2016/17 season.