Ajax has agreed to pay 7.85m euros (£6.54m) to the family of Abdelhak Nouri after “inadequate” medical treatment was given to the midfielder causing him to have serious permanent brain damage. 20-year-old Nouri suffered a cardiac arrest during a friendly against Werder Bremen in July 2017 and was not given the proper care by the Dutch club.
An investigation into the case reveals medics spent too long trying to clear his airways and were too late in using a defibrillator. Ajax has paid for his care since and say they will continue to do so. Nouri was a Netherlands Under-21 international and had played 15 times for Ajax’s first season before the incident happened.
Nouri’s family sued the club and they have now agreed with an amicable settlement, instead of going to the KNVB (Dutch FA’s) arbitration committee. The club’s general manager Edwin van der Sar said: “It is good that an agreement has been reached so that we can conclude this.”
The “former Manchester United goalkeeper also said: “We all realise that the suffering for Abdelhak, and his loved ones, is not over. It remains a very sad situation, that’s how we feel here at Ajax too.” The Dutch giants retired Nouri’s number 34 jersey and give the Abdelhak Nouri Trophy annually to their best academy player.