Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul has joined Ajax on a season-long deal, the Championship club has confirmed.
Krul completed a medical on Thursday and joins the Eredivisie side as part of the goalkeeper merry-go-round around European clubs. Jasper Cillessen joined Barcelona from Ajax, paving the way for Manchester City to sign Claudio Bravo.
According to reports however, Krul has signed a contract extension at St James' Park as well, which is highly unusual. The new deal will take the Dutch international up to 2018.
NIEUWS | @TimKrul op huurbasis naar Ajax:https://t.co/KoSmDcUBUj #WelkomTim pic.twitter.com/Xkhih61O79
Rafael Benitez made clear that there was no place for Krul, withRob Elliot, Karl Darlow and exciting youngster Freddie Woodman already in the squad, while Matz Sels has also joined from Gent.
"He has one year left on his contract and we have five keepers are the moment, he's coming back from injury, training hard and improving," Benitez said.
"We have Sels now, we have Darlow and we have Woodman so we can't keep five keepers for the whole season."
It is entirely possible that Benitez and Newcastle are wanting to see how Krul recovers over a whole season by starting regularly, after rupturing his cruciate ligament injury back in October. The deal also makes sense for Ajax, who were looking for a swift resolution after losing Cillessen to Barca.
CONFIRMED: @TimKrul moves on season-long loan to @AFCAjax after extending #NUFC contract
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