PSV set to complete Ayoni Santos move from Sparta Prague

PSV Eindhoven have reached an agreement with Sparta Prague to sign Cape Verde international Ayoni Santos for a fee of about five million euros.

The 21-year-old midfielder still has to complete the formalities of his move to the Eindhoven club, but the transfer is expected to go through without difficulty. Sources close to the deal say Sparta will receive approximately €5m.

Santos was left out of Sparta’s squad for Saturday afternoon’s Rotterdam derby against Excelsior. Sparta manager Rogier Meijer said the midfielder “n’etait pas mentalement avec le Sparta”.

“Cela dure depuis quelques jours, donc c’est bien qu’il ne soit pas la”, Meijer added.

The agreement takes Santos’ expected transfer fee close to Sparta’s record sales. The Rotterdam club previously received five million euros for Ayoub Oufkir, who moved to AZ, and goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who joined Watford after leaving Spangen.

Santos’ anticipated arrival is part of a busy period of activity at PSV. Earlier on Sunday, it also emerged that Sami Ouaissa of NEC was on course to join the Dutch club. He would follow his former team-mate Kodai Sano to the Spanish champions.

PSV have already added Sven Mijnans, Lutsharel Geertruida and Filip Kostic earlier in the day. The number of midfield options at Eindhoven could be balanced by the expected departure of Joel van den Berg, who is set to move to Celtic.

That transfer is reportedly being arranged for €3.5m, with a further €1m available in bonuses.

Santos’ absence from Sparta’s derby squad had fuelled speculation that his future was close to being resolved. Meijer’s comments suggested the player’s focus had shifted away from the Rotterdam club in the days leading up to the match.

The agreement between Sparta and PSV now leaves the final steps of the transfer to be completed by Santos and the Eindhoven side. Subject to those formalities, the Cape Verde midfielder will become the latest player to join PSV during an active period in the transfer market.

The proposed €5m fee would represent a significant return for Sparta and place Santos alongside Oufkir and Okoye as one of the club’s most valuable departures. It also gives the midfielder the opportunity to continue his career at PSV, with the move expected to be finalised shortly.