Antwerp contemplating return of Ajax defender | OneFootball

According to Het Nieuwsblad, Antwerp are eyeing up a move that would bring Gaston Avila back from Ajax. The defender left Antwerp for Ajax in 2024 for €12.5m, a significant deal that was always massively inflated for what the player could offer the Eredivisie side. Unsurprisingly, Avila struggled at Ajax, although he was hampered somewhat by a cruciate ligament injury suffered in January 2024. He has since been loaned out to Brazilian side Fortaleza and looks to have fully recovered as he racks up the appearances, with 34 games across the Brazilian Serie A and other cup competitions.

Reuniting with Avila makes sense for Antwerp, who would be bringing back a player that formed part of the Championship winning side of the 2022/2023 season. For Avila, he gets to return to a club where he really did enjoy his football and success, as the club also won the domestic cup that season. The Argentinian defender played 26 games that season, with 29 overall for Antwerp. He only managed eight for Ajax after the big money move. there is no chance Ajax will be able to recoup anywhere near the money they spent on Avila, another damning indictment of the transfer policy pursued in Amsterdam in recent seasons. Antwerp are looking at a loan, although a stumbling block may be how much of Avila’s Ajax contract they need to cover.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson