Mike Verweij reports for De Telegraaf that Arsenal’s opening bid to sign Tommy Setford from Ajax was £350,000 plus bonuses.
Setford is out of contract at the end of the season. If Ajax hold onto him until then, they’ll receive that same amount (£350k) as a training compensation fee, but without the bonuses.
Ajax now have a decision to make. To take the money now and potentially end up with more in the end, or to hold onto the player and potentially convince him to stick around.
Ajax have offered Setford the opportunity to become their second team’s starting goalkeeper, and they’ll make a final attempt to convince him to sign a new contract, but he’s not against a move to Arsenal.
Club-to-club negotiations are reportedly set to continue, with Ajax hoping to get more from Arsenal if they can’t convince Setford to stay.
It seems this situation isn’t set for a speedy resolution.
Fabrizio Romano initially broke the news of Arsenal’s bid for Setford, claiming the goalkeeper is keen on the move.
This would be the ideal time for Arsenal to sign Setford, because it’s the last point at which he can secure homegrown status.
A homegrown player is one who has been registered to an FA or FA of Wales club for three entire seasons before the end of the season during which he turns 21.
Setford turns 19 this season, so he’s just about able to squeeze in three seasons before the end of the campaign in which he’ll turn 21 (2026/27).
Setford spent the 2023/24 season playing his club football for the Ajax u18s, and his international football for the England u18s and u19s. He stepped up to the England u20 squad this summer, though he’s yet to make an appearance for the team.
The teenager kept six clean sheets in 15 games for Ajax this season.