Sparta Prague's Zdenek Grygera joins Ajax for four seasons
22 July: Ajax purchased another defender in a major European
transfer today. Five days after the presentation of Frenchman
Julien Escudé, it was Zdenek Grygera's turn to sign a
four year contract at the Amsterdam ArenA. The 23 year-old
international for the Czech Republic comes from Sparta Prague
and can be used in central defense and at right back.
Zdenek Grygera. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
As usual, Ajax did not reveal the transfer fee paid for the
player. Dutch newspaper Het Parool and Czech newspaper
Sportovni Noviny report that Ajax paid the Czech
champions a sum of 3.5 million euros. Grygera can not only play
in the heart of defense, alongside players such as Julien
Escudé, Petri Pasanen and Johnny Heitinga, but also at
right back. Therefore, he can also be regarded as the possible
replacement for Hatem Trabelsi. The Tunisian said earlier that
the chances of him leaving Ajax were "fifty-fifty".
Grygera was a much-wanted player on the European transfer
market this summer. According to media reports Juventus, AS
Monaco, Borussia Dortmund and Schalke '04 were also attempting
to sign the defender. Yesterday, however, the player was quoted
saying that he had chosen for Ajax. "Ajax is a fantastic club
with a fantastic reputation. Also, they had no trouble paying
for my transfer, unlike AS Monaco. The fact that my countryman
Tomás Galásek plays for Ajax is a nice
extra."
After having reached a personal agreement with Ajax on
Monday Grygera and the chairman of Sparta Prague travelled to
Amsterdam this morning to work out the final details of the
transfer at the Amsterdam ArenA with Ajax's general director
Arie van Eijden. "After Sonck and Escudé Ajax has yet
again contracted an excellent player", said Van Eijden as the
ink on the contract was drying. "Our technical staff is very
positive about Grygera. I am particularly delighted that Ajax
once again managed to contract a player who was high on the
club's wishlist."
Zdenek Grygera was born on 14 May 1980 in the Czech town of
Pøilepy u Holesova. As a professional footballer he
played 119 games for Sparta Prague, clinching four Czech
championships. He scored four goals for Sparta in total. He is
also a regular in the Czech national team, for which he played
16 games so far (1 goal).
After the signing of FC Twente goalkeeper Sander Boschker on
a free transfer this is Ajax's third highly prestigious
transfer this summer. The transfer market acitivities of the
Amsterdam club are highly remarkable: Wesley Sonck, Julien
Escudé and Zdenek Grygera were on the wishlists of
several major European sides, but chose for the Amsterdam
ArenA. Ajax invested approximately 13 million euros in the
three players, which is less than 50% of the money received for
Cristian Chivu and Andy van der Meyde. It is a fair conclusion
that the summer of 2003 has been an excellent one for the
Amsterdammers.
After having signed his four year contract, Grygera was
handed the Ajax home jersey with number 23, the number that was
worn by Rafaël van der Vaart last season. The player will
join Ronald Koeman and his new team-mates to England on Tuesday
afternoon and is expected to see his first Ajax-1 action in
this week's friendlies at Nottingham Forest (Wednesday) and
Derby County (Friday). (MP)
Sources: Ajax.nl, VI.nl
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