Ajax centre-back linked with move to Lazio as club sets firm price
Ajax’s defensive ranks are the subject of fresh transfer speculation after Italian journalist Alfredo Pedullà reported that Lazio have enquired about centre-back Josip Sutalo. The report says Ajax expect the 26-year-old to leave before the end of the summer window and have set an asking price of €12–13 million plus bonuses.
Sutalo, a Dinamo Zagreb product, moved to Ajax in the summer of 2023 in a deal reported at the time to be worth €20 million. Since then he has been a regular starter for the Amsterdam club and has become a fixture for the Croatian national team, earning 37 caps after making his senior debut in 2022.
Competition and context for Sutalo’s next move
The Lazio approach comes amid broader uncertainty in the Serie A side’s defensive department. Lazio strengthened this summer by signing Danilho Doekhi on a free transfer, but have seen Mario Gila move to AC Milan and face possible further departures, which has prompted them to look for reinforcements.
According to the same reporting, Sutalo has already rejected two proposals from the Middle East — one reportedly from Al-Hilal — and Benfica are also said to be interested. Pedullà’s piece suggests Lazio may have to structure a loan with an option to buy rather than a straight purchase because the club currently lacks the resources to meet Ajax’s immediate valuation.
"Ajax expect to leave before the end of the summer," the Italian report states regarding Sutalo's likely departure.
What the figures show
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 26 |
| Contract remaining | Two years |
| Ajax asking price | €12–13 million plus bonuses |
| International caps | 37 for Croatia |
| Previous transfer to Ajax | Signed from Dinamo Zagreb in summer 2023 for reported €20m |
Implications for Ajax Amsterdam's squad plan
Should Sutalo depart this summer, Ajax would face the task of replacing a regular first-team centre-back. The club already faces depth questions amid earlier sales and interest in other defensive options. The reported asking price and Ajax’s expectation that Sutalo could leave before the window closes suggest the club is positioning itself to reinvest proceeds, though the precise transfer strategy will depend on whether interested clubs meet Ajax’s valuation or prefer a loan structure.
- For Ajax: the sale would free transfer funds but would create an immediate need to recruit or promote centre-back cover.
- For Sutalo: multiple suitors could give leverage, as he has reportedly turned down offers from the Middle East and attracted interest from clubs including Benfica and Lazio.
- For buyers: Lazio may prefer a loan with an option to buy if they cannot pay Ajax’s fee up front.
Local supporters who follow Ajax’s transfer business closely will be watching whether negotiations accelerate in the coming days. With the European summer window moving toward its close, clubs often intensify talks — and patches of speculation can become hard facts quickly.
This account sticks to details reported by Pedullà and other recent dispatches: Ajax’s valuation of €12–13 million plus bonuses, Sutalo’s two years remaining on his contract, his 37 caps for Croatia, his 2023 arrival from Dinamo Zagreb, and the reported interest from Lazio, Benfica and clubs in the Middle East including Al-Hilal. No official confirmation has been released by Ajax or the clubs mentioned at the time of reporting.
Further developments are likely before the transfer window shuts; Ajax supporters in Ontario and beyond should expect more clarity only once formal offers are lodged or the parties issue official statements.
