Oleksandr Zinchenko to Ajax: Arsenal outcast ends Forest stint early as Dutch giants fill left-back void | OneFootball

Ajax have agreed a deal to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko on loan from Arsenal until the summer, with the defender's loan deal at Nottingham Forest to be cut short.

Zinchenko will travel to Amsterdam on Monday to finalise a move to the Eredivisie outfit. The transfer follows a disappointing period atNottingham Forest, with the 29-year-old having made just four Premier League starts so far this season.

Zinchenko signed for Forest on a season-long loan deal on deadline day in September, after being informed he did not feature in Mikel Arteta's plans this season. The decision came afterArsenal added Piero Hincapie to their options at left-back.

According toFabrizio Romano, Ajax will cover the Ukraine international's salary for the duration of his time at The Johan Cruijff Arena.

Ajax had been keen to sign a left-back, an area weakened in the summer following the sales of Borna Sosa and Jorell Hato to Crystal Palace and Chelsea respectively.

Zinchenko will add huge experience to the Ajax squad, currently under the management of interim boss Fred Grim. He had been keen to secure regular first-team football ahead of Ukraine's 2026 World Cup play-off campaign in March. Ukraine face Sweden in their semi-final on March 26th.

The defender is a four-timePremier League title winner from his time at Manchester City. The deal also marks a return to the Eredivisie for Zinchenko, who made 17 appearances for PSV Eindhoven during a loan spell with the club in 2016-17.

Zinchenko will link up with ex-Arsenal teammate Takehiro Tomiyasu at Ajax, after the Japan international joined the Dutch outfit on a free transfer last month. Tomiyasu's contract was mutually terminated atArsenal in July after an injury-hit period in North London.

Ajax are currently third in the Eredivisie table, though trail leaders PSV Eindhoven by 18 points.