One year on from Lisandro Magallán arriving in Amsterdam and undergoing a medical, the Boca Juniors central defender has finally put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year deal with Dutch giants Ajax.
Not put off by the collapse of the transfer last summer, Ajax completed the €9 million deal for Magallán on Wednesday and the 25-year-old will make his first steps in European football.
After defeat in the Copa Libertadores final and with manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto leaving there is the sense that Boca Juniors are at the beginning of a new cycle in 2019 and so it’s an ideal time for Magallán to make the switch. With former club Gimnasia still owning 20% of the defender, Boca will make around €6 million after tax from the transfer.
To-do list 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣:
Magallán announced 📋✔️#MagaTransfer pic.twitter.com/Qhxt09dCex
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) January 2, 2019
A key part of the Boca that lifted the Superliga title last season, Magallán has grown into his starting role at La Bombonera since signing from Gimnasia in 2012 for $1.4 million. Two loans with Rosario Central and Defensa y Justicia respectively and a bit part in his earlier seasons with Boca, Magallán developed into a regular under Barros Schelotto.
Given Licha’s profile and link with a possible Argentina call-up last year an eventual transfer always looked likely with Boca eager to cash in and the player wanting to test himself in Europe. However, many may question the €9 million transfer fee and feel that Ajax have been forced to overpay by one of the few Argentinian clubs able to play hard-ball in such negotiations.
¡Hasta pronto, Maga!
Muchos éxitos en tu nuevo desafío profesional en el @AFCAjax 🇳🇱. pic.twitter.com/1opucjwX6u
— Boca Jrs. Oficial (@BocaJrsOficial) January 2, 2019