Named: Striker who Erik ten Hag ‘wanted to sign for Man United for £34m’ – but is now worth less than £8.5m in major dodged bullet
Manchester United appear to have dodged a major bullet after they avoided reuniting Ajax striker Brian Brobbey with former boss Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag, who was sacked as United boss in October with his side languishing in 13th place in the Premier League, was reportedly keen to sign the Ajax forward in a deal worth £34m, according to reports in the Netherlands.
United spent more than £600million on transfers with Ten Hag at the helm but can be thankful they avoided the Dutch striker, who is now valued at just £8.5m.
The 23-year-old played under Ten Hag at Ajax and would have been the ex-United boss’s fourth signing from the Eredivisie.
He previously brought in Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez and Antony among 16 signings, many who have largely disappointed, during his two-year spell in the Old Trafford hot seat.
‘Ten Hag wanted to pay another €40m (£34m) for him, now they are not even paying €10m (£8.5m),’ Dutch journalist Valentijn Driessen told Voetbal Primeur.
Manchester United avoided reuniting Ajax striker Brian Brobbey with former boss Erik ten Hag
The 23-year-old would have been the ex-United boss’s fourth signing from the Eredivisie
Ten Hag was sacked as United boss in October with his side languishing in 13th place
The Dutchman was linked with a Manchester move as recently as last January and he was also believed to be on the Premier League giant’s shortlist the previous summer.
Asked about the rumours, the forward said: ‘I saw it on the news but I will stay in Amsterdam.
‘I have no contact with Erik [Ten Hag].
‘We used to text through WhatsApp, but I think Erik is busy. I have a new number as well.’
He also turned down a move to Old Trafford in 2022 to rejoin Ajax, despite receiving a personal phone call from Ten Hag to try and persuade him.
Speaking to De Telegraaf, the player said, ‘Erik ten Hag called me and said that at United, my agent would get millions of euros and I could earn a multiple of my Ajax salary. But our decision was clear: we wanted to go to Ajax.’
Brobbey joined Ajax’s academy aged eight before moving to Bundesliga club RB Leipzig in July 2021.
He returned to Ajax, then managed by Ten Hag, on loan in December 2021.
Manchester United spent more than £600million on 16 signings during Ten Hag’s spell
Rubem Amorim replaced Ten Hag in November but United remain in 14th in the Premier League
During this loan spell, he made a significant impact, prompting Ajax to re-sign him on a permanent basis in July 2022 for a reported fee of £13.9m.
The 2023–24 season was particularly fruitful for Brobbey, as he scored 22 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions.
Despite Ajax’s overall struggles that season, finishing fifth in the Eredivisie, Brobbey’s performances stood out, leading to his inclusion in the Netherlands’ squad for Euro 2024.
However, his form has dipped this season with the striker scoring seven and contributing five assists in 42 games in all competitions.
