Azzedine Ounahi favours Ajax as Girona exit draws closer

Azzedine Ounahi is increasingly expected to leave Girona before the transfer window closes, with Ajax emerging as his preferred destination.

The Morocco international has attracted interest from a number of clubs, including sides in the Premier League and Saudi Arabia. However, the proposed move to Amsterdam is understood to appeal most strongly to the 25-year-old midfielder.

Nil Sola, a journalist for Cadena SER known for his close knowledge of the Catalan club, reports that Ounahi’s future is now likely to lie away from Girona.

Africafoot was the first to reveal that Ounahi had received several approaches. Although options remain available elsewhere, the Ajax proposal is said to be the one that has made the greatest impression on the player. He is therefore believed to have made the Dutch club his favoured choice for the next stage of his career.

Ajax’s interest has also moved beyond an initial enquiry. The Amsterdam club’s directors are understood to have taken concrete steps to sign Ounahi and are now attempting to reach an agreement with Girona.

The main obstacle in negotiations is the transfer fee. Ounahi’s release clause is estimated at 25m euros, but Ajax would prefer not to pay the full amount.

The Dutch club is instead seeking to negotiate a lower fee in order to complete the deal. With the player keen on a move to Amsterdam and talks already under way, Ajax currently appears to be in the strongest position to secure the Morocco midfielder before the end of the transfer window.

Ounahi joined Girona after his previous spell at Marseille, where his performances helped establish him as an important member of Morocco’s midfield. His international reputation was strengthened by his displays for Morocco at the 2022 Fifa World Cup, although the source article does not provide further details about his current role at Girona or the length of his existing contract.

The immediate focus for Girona will be their upcoming fixture against Cordoba in the second round of the Spanish LaLiga 2 season. The match is scheduled to take place shortly, before the transfer window reaches its deadline.

The betting company 1xbet lists Girona as the favourites for the game, with odds of 2.15 for a home victory. A draw is priced at 3.30, while Cordoba are listed at 3.00 to win.

Those match details provide the next on-field priority for Girona, but Ounahi’s potential departure is likely to remain the central issue surrounding the club before the market closes. If Ajax can agree a fee below the midfielder’s estimated release clause, the player’s preference and the progress of negotiations could see the transfer completed soon.