Barcelona has announced the signing of Jasper Cillessen from Ajax on a five-year contract. Cillessen completed his move to Barcelona, after bidding farewell to Ajax fans following the Champions League League play-off defeat to Rostov on Wednesday night (24 August).
The goalkeeper arrives at Camp Nou for a fee of 13 million euros ($14.68M), with a further €2M for performance-related add-ons, and will replace Claudio Bravo, who is set to be announced as Manchester City’s last signing.
Cillessen’s buyout clause has been set at €60 million and he will be presented to the Barcelona fans on Friday.
“Dreams come true,” he said on Twitter, complete with a picture of him in a Barcelona shirt in front of the club’s badge ahead of the confirmation.
The Netherlands international has said he is ready to fight with Marc-Andre ter Stegen for the number one role at the Nou Camp, where he is expected to replace Manchester City-bound Claudio Bravo.
“Competing with Ter Stegen? I like the challenge,” he said, as quoted by Sport. “It’s good to compete for a starting spot. Barcelona play 60 games a year, certainly there will be opportunities [for both of us]. At Ajax I also had to compete with [Kenneth] Vermeer and I won that battle. I will try to do it again.”
“FC Barcelona has decided to purchase 27 year old Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen from Ajax Amsterdam on a five-year contract. The transfer fee is a guaranteed 13 million euros plus a further two million in variables. Cillessen’s buyout clause has been set at 60 million euros,” the club confirmed.
“The player arrived in Barcelona this morning and after taking a medical examination, he signed his new contract in private. He will be officially presented as an FC Barcelona tomorrow Friday.”