Ajax agree Nouri settlement four years after collapse which led to brain damage

Abdelhak Nouri’s blossoming career at Ajax was brought to a premature end during a friendly match in 2017, when he suffered a cardiac arrest leaving him with brain damage

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Ajax fans with emotional tribute to Abdelhak Nouri

Ajax have reached a settlement with Abdelhak Nouri’s family four years on from his heartbreaking collapse, according to reports in the Netherlands.

Nouri, 24, suffered permanent brain damage after he collapsed with a cardiac arrest during a pre-season friendly against Werder Bremen in July 2017.

Then a promising attacking midfielder, the Amsterdam native was unable to continue his playing career and he requires around-the-clock care.

Ajax cancelled Nouri’s contract last year before it was due to automatically renew and the club confirmed they were in talks with his family and their lawyers over a “future solution”.

Nouri’s relatives opened an arbitration case after no such agreement was reached, but they have closed this after finally striking a deal with the Eredivise giants.

That is according to NOS, which reports the compensation package takes into account the cost of Nouri’s care and the loss of his earning capacity.

“The shortcomings mean that Abdelhak is permanently dependent on the care of others and that he has not been able to show how his promising career as a footballer would have developed,” said the family’s lawyers.

Nouri represented Netherlands at youth level and made nine league appearances for Ajax after bursting onto the scene in 2015.

Donny van de Beek wears his former teammate’s number, 34, at Manchester United as a tribute.

United legend and Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar previously confessed Nouri did not receive sufficient care in the immediate aftermath of his collapse.

“We recognise our responsibility and liability for the consequences of this,” he said last year. “For a long time we were convinced that Abdelhak had received the best possible care on the field.”

Ajax’s investigation into the incident found that a defibrillator should have been used earlier in Nouri’s treatment.

Van der Sar added: “Had this happened, it’s possible that Abdelhak would have come out in a better condition.

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“This isn’t certain, but it’s a possibility. We now need to do what’s necessary in order to fulfil the responsibility we have as a club, but also as human beings.”

Nouri made a total of 15 appearances for Ajax in all competitions, scoring once and registering three assists.

His talent was clear for all to see after a brilliant 2016/17 season with Jong Ajax, the club’s reserve team, in the second tier, during which he returned 21 goals or assists in 26 appearances.