Ajax to Pay $8.5 Million to Family of Brain-Damaged Player Abdelhak Nouri

The Ajax officials say they are aware that this compensation could not make up for the ordeal that Abdelhak Nouri and his family have had to go through. "We all realize that Abdelhak’s suffering and that of his loved ones is not over with this," said Edwin van der Sar, the club’s CEO, in a statement. "It remains a very sad situation, which we also feel here at Ajax," he added.

While he was one of the club’s young prodigies, Abdelhak Nouri collapsed during a warm-up match between Ajax Amsterdam and Werder Bremen in Austria. The aftermath has been a long journey of trials and suffering for his loved ones and him.

The club will not delay in terminating his contract. Plunged into a vegetative state, he suffers from serious and permanent brain damage. In June 2018, his family filed a claim with the Arbitration Commission of the Federation, seeking compensation from the club to pay for his lifelong care.

This is what the Nouri family will receive, following an amicable settlement. In addition to this compensation, the club stated that it will continue to pay for Abdelhak Nouri’s care, as it has been doing since 2017. "It’s good that an agreement has been reached, so that we can close this," Van der Sar also said.

Mohammed Nouri, the player’s father, hails the involvement and commitment of Ajax, which, according to him, "have been extremely important over all these years. Ajax has been an integral part of our lives since Abdelhak’s earliest years. We cherish the connection with the people within the club and with the loyal supporters," he added.