Medical and Contract Terms in Amsterdam
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma has arrived in Amsterdam to finalize a move to Ajax, according to reporting by De Telegraaf. The 30-year-old Mali international is currently undergoing a medical examination with the Eredivisie club, following his release from the north London side in June.
Sources indicate the deal is structured as an initial contract running through the end of the season, though Goal reports that the agreement could extend until mid-2027, including an option for an additional year. This move marks a significant career reset for Bissouma, who has been without a club since the conclusion of his tenure at Tottenham.
A Career at a Crossroads
Bissouma’s exit from Tottenham followed a challenging final season in the Premier League. As noted by the BBC, he made 11 appearances during his last campaign with the club, as Tottenham finished 17th in the league table for two consecutive years. His departure was preceded by a series of off-field disciplinary issues, including a suspension in August 2024 following a social media video that prompted the player to publicly apologize for a “serious lack of judgement.”
Further complicating his standing in North London, former manager Thomas Frank omitted Bissouma from the squad for the UEFA Super Cup against Paris St-Germain in August 2025, citing persistent lateness. These events contributed to a decline in his regular playing time, leading to his eventual release after accumulating 111 appearances for the club since his 2022 arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Ajax’s Aggressive Summer Strategy
The acquisition of Bissouma fits into a broader recruitment strategy at the Johan Cruyff ArenA. Ajax has been highly active this summer, balancing free transfers with targeted investments. Other notable arrivals on free deals include Sofyan Amrabat, Daley Blind, Joffre Torrents, and Julian Brandt. The club has also bolstered its squad with loan signings such as Thilo Kehrer and Marc Ter Stegen, alongside paid transfers for players like Marcos Leonardo and Viktor Tsygankov.
For Ajax, the signing represents an attempt to add top-level defensive midfield experience to a squad undergoing significant transition. Whether Bissouma can replicate the form he displayed during his initial rise in English football remains the primary question as he prepares for his debut in the Netherlands.