Ajax reach settlement with Abdelhak Nouri's family and retire No34 shirt

Ajax have reached a settlement Abdelhak Nouri's family and retired his No.34 shirt.

The ex-midfielder, 24, suffered a cardiac arrest during a friendly against Werder Bremen in Austria in July 2017, leaving him with serious and permanent brain damage.

Nouri's family confirmed he'd awoken from his coma in March 2020 and Ajax cancelled his contract a few days later, with a settlement in mind.

Ajax have now confirmed they will pay the player's family €7.85million - around £6.5m - as "compensation for damages" and "loss of labour capacity".

The Dutch club have also accepted Nouri's medical care in the immediate aftermath of his cardiac arrest was "not adequate" and have "acknowledged liability for the consequences".

And Ajax have pledged to continue to cover the costs of Nouri's care.

"It is good that an agreement has been reached, so that we can close this issue," Ajax's CEO Edwin van der Sar told the club's website.

"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. We greatly appreciate the way in which Abdelhak’s family cares for him day and night with a lot of love and attention.

"When I visit him, I am always welcomed with open arms by the family. That also applies to other Ajax colleagues and we greatly appreciate that.

"The bond between Ajax and the Nouri family is a permanent one. Not only because of the Abdelhak Nouri Trophy, which the family hands out every year to the greatest talent from our academy, but also because we have decided to give the number 34 to the Nouri family.

"In the Ajax first team, the number 34 will never be worn again, unless the Nouri family and Ajax want to make an exception together.