Ajax set for shock swoop after 'reaching agreement' for Al Hilal's Marcos Leonardo

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marcos-leonardo/OW4BpjD0/"]Marcos Leonardo[/a], 23, is set to join [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ajax/8UOvIwnb/"]Ajax[/a] on a five-year contract, which the two parties agreed on earlier on Sunday.[/p][p]After Dutch media, including [i][b][a href="https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/voetbal/ajax-heeft-goede-hoop-op-komst-braziliaan-marcos-leonardo-23/158611505.html"]De Telegraaf[/a][/b][/i], broke the news of the personal agreement early in the afternoon, Fabrizio Romano reported in the early evening that Ajax and Al Hilal had reached an agreement on the transfer of the Brazilian striker, who'll cost Ajax a base fee of €17.5 million, which could rise to €19 million through bonuses.[/p][p]Marcos Leonardo will undergo his medical on Monday, according to De Telegraaf.[/p][image alt="Marcos Leonardo's career stats" id="a184347d-7a89-406d-96ff-bf574db96d1d" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="1f52817d-8709-45cf-b31c-40e3cc45dc13" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Marcos Leonardo joined Saudi Professional League side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/al-hilal/hxxcePl9/"]Al Hilal[/a] in 2024 and has scored 48 goals in 82 appearances for the club, but is reportedly looking to return to Europe. [/p][p]Al Hilal are reportedly allowing Marcos Leonardo to leave, with Karim Benzema and Darwin Nunez also in the squad. Nunez did not feature for the country's most successful club over the last six months after being omitted from Al Hilal's league squad due to foreign player limits.[/p][p]The 23-year-old Brazilian, who's also gathered interest from the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fc-porto/S2NmScGp/"]Porto[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fiorentina/Q3A3IbXH/"]Fiorentina[/a], joined Al Hilal from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/benfica/zBkyuyRI/"]Benfica[/a] for €40 million in 2023, just nine months after moving from Santos to Benfica for €22 million.[/p][h2]Rebuild mode[/h2][p]Ajax, who are undergoing a rebuild under Jordi Cruyff, are also working on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-eredivisie-ajax-enter-race-for-moroccan-world-cup-standout-azzedine-ounahi/QcxzepEs/"]the transfer[/a] of Morocco standout [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ounahi-azzedine/reDF5hxm/"]Azzedine Ounahi[/a], according to Fabrizio Romano.[/p][p]The Amsterdam club, who acquired [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/caio-henrique/dr5D8pxI/"]Caio Henrique[/a] from Monaco and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/blind-daley/U5mPqlh6/"]Daley Blind[/a] on a free transfer earlier in July, gained funds and salary room after selling [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/steur-sean/M7pUtmE7/"]Sean Steur[/a] to Newcastle United for €27 million and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/akpom-chuba/r3FhGWO6/"]Chuba Akpom[/a] to Ipswich Town for close to €10 million, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-den-boomen-branco/nmGmcgb6/"]Branco van den Boomen[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/weghorst-wout/tpWMDFoL/"]Wout Weghorst[/a] left on free transfers.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/transfer-news-live-tracker-updates/8QqUWm3n/"]Follow the latest transfer news LIVE via Flashscore[/a][/h2][embed guid="61692d54-4779-42ff-8c24-5e574354aaf2" url="https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/2076346983661375574?s=46" social-type="twitter" /]