Ajax struggled with the goalkeeper since the departure of Andrea Onana to Inter, trusted veteran Remko Pasveer in the first part of the season, and – it did not go well.Dominik Livaković from Dinamo Zagreb and Andries Noppert from Heerenveen were mentioned as main targets, but in the end the choice fell on Geronimo Rulli. The Argentine arrives from Villarreal in a transfer that can reach up to 12,500,000 euros.Ajax will pay a fixed part of the compensation of 7,500,000 euros, and potential bonuses amount to an additional 5,000,000 euros. It is estimated that half of the bonus is easily achievable, so Villarreal can certainly expect at least 10,000,000 euros from the transfer of the Argentine. The first offer of around 5,000,000 euros was quickly rejected, but then Ajax increased the pressure and reached deeper into their pockets.##NAJAVA_MECA_6923156##Rulli appeared at this morning’s Villarreal training as a ‘civilian’, said goodbye to his teammates and headed to Amsterdam, where he will undergo medical checks and sign a contract.”The negotiations went quickly, everyone gave their maximum contribution to reach an agreement quickly. This is good for me, Villarreal and Ajax. I can’t wait to join the new club”, said Rulli before leaving for the Netherlands.Rulli started his career in the Argentinian Estudiantes and then arrived in Europe through the Uruguayan management club Deportivo Maldonado, where he excelled in the goal of Real Sociedad. After two years, Manchester City bought him and left him on loan in San Sebastian, but he was never called up to England and Real Sociedad bought him back. He defended one season in Montpellier and for the last two and a half years he has been a member of Villarreal. Last season he was the first-choice goalkeeper.Geronimo Rulli will fly to Amsterdam today in order to undergo medical tests and sign the contract as new Ajax goalkeeper. ⚪️🔴🛬 #Ajax Full agreement in place with Villarreal as revealed in the last 24h – documents are being prepared. Report @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/vztmcmC10O— Goalposts.in (@Goalposts_In) January 5, 2023 However, with the arrival of veteran Pepe Reina, Villarreal found a way to replace him and allow him to transfer to Ajax. A reminder – Rulli was a member of the Argentina national team, which recently won the World Cup title in Qatar.
