AJAX have reached a settlement worth £6.5million with Abdelhak Nouri’s family after he suffered serious brain damage due to inadequate medical care.
The midfielder’s career was cut short after he suffered a cardiac arrest in a 2017 pre-season game against Werder Bremen.
And despite being revived on the pitch and rushed to a hospital, Nouri suffered permanent brain damage.
Ajax have admitted that the medical care on the field was not adequate and have acknowledged liability.
General manager Edwin van der Sar said in a statement: “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 the family takes care of Abdelhak 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 appreciate that enormously.”
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The club have also retired the No34 shirt out of respect for Nouri and his spot in the dressing room will also be placed in the Ajax Fanshop.
Ajax’s statement continued: “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.
“The Abdelhak’s spot in the dressing room will also be placed in the Ajax Fanshop, next to the main entrance of the ArenA [stadium].
“We have carefully kept that in the stadium in recent years and we are now going to give it a beautiful place that is accessible to everyone.”
In March 2020, Nouri’s family confirmed he had come out of his coma and they were now caring for him at home.
The family live in a specially adapted house with Nouri able to sit up and in a wheelchair
Manchester United ace Donny van de Beek is a close friend of Nouri’s due to their time together at Ajax.
And after his move to Manchester, Van De Beek decided to wear Nouri’s No34 to honour his pal.
After his son’s friend’s move to Old Trafford, Nouri’s father Mohammed told NOS: “Donny called me. He asked if I was okay with him playing with number 34.
“And I said he should. I can only be proud of that, it’s a nice gesture, very special for us.”
According to Sport Witness, he added: “Appie’s eyes looked very sharp suddenly.
“He had tears of joy on his cheeks and was clearly moved when he heard Donny’s voice. Donny is like a son to us.
“Everyone at our house was very emotional, happy with Donny’s wonderful transfer. It was a special day.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk