Skip to content

Wolfsburg confirms deal for highly touted Dutch stud Bazoer

Osman Orsal / Reuters

After months of speculation linking Ajax central midfielder Riechedly Bazoer with some of Europe's top clubs, Wolfsburg has lured the Dutch international to the Volkswagen Arena.

The Bundesliga side announced the move with a statement on its website Wednesday, with the 20-year-old six-time-capped promising Oranje talent putting pen to paper on a four-and-a-half year deal through June 2021 for a reported fee of €12 million.

Before signing with Wolfsburg, speculation suggested that Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool, AC Milan, and Chelsea were all interested in the player.

"We have had a close eye on Riechedly Bazoer for quite some time and we are delighted that he has opted to sign for VfL Wolfsburg, in spite of having further offers from other renowned clubs," club sporting director Olaf Rebbe conceded.

Manager Valerien Ismael echoed those sentiments, saying, "I know Riechedly Bazoer well and firmly believe in the quality he possesses. He suits our team perfectly and can help VfL get back on the right track."

Now that the Lower-Saxons have beaten other top-flight sides to the punch for the prodigious defensive midfielder, Ismael and Co. will be hoping that Bazoer hits the ground running.

After finishing eighth in the Bundesliga campaign and progressing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League - a club-best run highlighted by a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid - Wolfsburg appear a side destined for the drop.

Dieter Hecking was sacked earlier in the campaign and replaced by Ismael, though the new gaffer's influence has hardly been inspiring, with just two wins to show in eight matches in all competitions since his Oct. 17 appointment.

The 2008-09 Bundesliga winner currently sits 15th in the table, even on points with relegation-fodder Hamburg ahead of a visit from Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

The signing comes two days after the club parted ways with sporting director Klaus Allofs.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox