Shock as Ajax terminate contract of player who just woke up from coma
It was meant to be a fairy tale. After almost three years, Ajax youngster Abdelhak Nouri woke up from a coma he suffered while playing for the club in a pre-season game against German side Werder Bremen in Austria mid-2017, much to the joy of many football lovers globally.
Just a week later, the club has revealed that they have terminated the contract of the highly-rated player.
His contract was due to expire on July 1 but has an automatic one-year renewal option that the club has opted not to explore.
“It is correct that the Ajax has terminated the contract Abdelhak Nouri, among others,” Ajax confirmed in a statement.
Nouri’s family went to the Federation’s arbitration commission in June 2018, demanding compensation from the club to cover the care he must receive for life.
Ajax agreed to take full responsibility for the player’s needs and apologised to the family, admitting that the player did not receive the best medical care after the incident in 2017 which left him with permanent brain damage.
Ajax is reportedly eager to discuss a permanent settlement with the player’s representatives.
The club has also let go former Real Madrid forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and ex-Liverpool striker Ryan Babel.