Soccer-Ajax land Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo from Al-Hilal

AFC Ajax NV

18/07/2026 06:47

    July 18 (Reuters) - Ajax AJAX.AS has signed Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo from Al-Hilal for a fee of just under €20 million euros ($22.88 million), the Dutch club said on Friday.
The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Eredivisie side.
Leonardo joined Al-Hilal from Portuguese club Benfica in 2024 and had a prolific stint at the Saudi Pro League club, scoring 48 goals in 82 appearances.
His standout moment at Al-Hilal was at the 2025 Club World Cup, scoring twice — including an extra-time winner — as Al-Hilal stunned Manchester City 4–3 to reach the quarter-finals.
Leonardo is Ajax's third signing of the current transfer window after left-back Caio Henrique arrived from Monaco and Daley Blind rejoined his boyhood club as a free agent following the expiry of his contract with Girona.
($1 = 0.8742 euros)

 (Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
 ((rishabh.jaiswal@thomsonreuters.com; +91 9916719147))