Ex-Manchester United player has contract with Ajax terminated

The club announced that Blind, who still had a contract with the club until June 2023, had worked with the club to have his contract terminated early.

There have been no pointers to why Blind’s contract was terminated, but it is believed that the player and club remain in good standing despite the early termination.

Blind, now 32, returned to his boyhood club Ajax from Manchester United in July 2018 for an estimated £14 million transfer fee and continued to establish his legacy at the Dutch club.

Since returning, he has won three Eredivisie titles, two KNVB Cups, and a Dutch Super Cup. Blind made 333 appearances for Ajax over two spells, and won seven Eredivisie titles with the club, which is a record number of Eredivisie titles won with Ajax, second only to legends Johan Cruijff and Sjaak Swart.

Ajax released an official announcement regarding the defender’s exit: “Ajax and Daley Blind have terminated their contract.

“The defender’s contract was set to expire on June 30, 2023 but will now end on December 31, 2022.”

Ajax chief executive, and former Manchester United goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar said: “Over the course of the last few days, we reached an agreement with Daley to terminate his contract.

“I hope he can find another club to end his successful career with.

“Together with Daley, we have decided on a match in the Arena where he can say a proper goodbye to the supporters.”

Blind was joined by his father Danny Blind, also a former Ajax player, in leaving the club, as the older Blind also stepped down from his supervisory role with the club.

Blind’s rumored next stop is Royal Antwerp, but the defender will undoubtedly have plenty of suitors after a successful 2022 World Cup campaign with the Netherlands, where he helped them advance to the quarterfinal after playing all five matches.