Transfer Centre

Ronald Koeman advises defender Matthijs de Ligt to leave Ajax

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 13 November 2018

Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman suggests that he has advised defender Matthijs de Ligt to leave Ajax for a bigger club in the near future.

Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has said that Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt should be competing in "a higher league".

De Ligt is regarded as one of the top prospects in world football, with the 19-year-old having already made 67 appearances for Ajax in all competitions.

Barcelona, Manchester City and Juventus are among a growing list of teams interested in the youngster, and Koeman has acknowledged that he wants to see the centre-back secure a transfer to a bigger club.

The 55-year-old told reporters: "It is obvious a player of the level of Matthijs will move into a higher league soon. I have talked about him a lot and the truth is he should be playing at a much higher level, he has the ability to make it to the very top in football.

"He made his debut in the Champions League group stage and then his next game was on a plastic pitch away against Excelsior, that is not something that is sustainable. Besides, the pace of the Eredivisie is not as high."

De Ligt has a contract at Ajax until 2021, but the Dutch giants could allow the academy graduate to leave in the summer.