Ajax reach settlement with Abdelhak Nouri's family and retire No34 shirt

Ajax have reached a settlement Abdelhak Nouri's family and retired his No.34 shirt.

The ex-midfielder, 24, suffered a cardiac arrest during a friendly against Werder Bremen in Austria in July 2017, leaving him with serious and permanent brain damage.

Nouri's family confirmed he'd awoken from his coma in March 2020 and Ajax cancelled his contract a few days later, with a settlement in mind.

Ajax have now confirmed they will pay the player's family €7.85million - around £6.5m - as "compensation for damages" and "loss of labour capacity".

The Dutch club have also accepted Nouri's medical care in the immediate aftermath of his cardiac arrest was "not adequate" and have "acknowledged liability for the consequences".

And Ajax have pledged to continue to cover the costs of Nouri's care.

"It is good that an agreement has been reached, so that we can close this issue," Ajax's CEO Edwin van der Sar told the club's website.

"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 in which Abdelhak's family cares for him 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 greatly appreciate that.

"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."

Nouri's father - Mohammed Nouri - added: "This summer it will be five years since Abdelhak was struck by a terrible fate. The past few years have been dominated by his care.

"In addition to all the difficult moments, this has also resulted in a lot of meaningful things for us. Especially the realisation that for many people Abdelhak is a personification of togetherness and brotherhood. That is a very comforting thought.

"The involvement and commitment of Ajax has also been extremely important said years. Ajax has been an inseparable part of our lives since Abdelhak's was very young.

"We cherish the bond with people within the club as well as with the loyal supporters.

"Abdelhak will forever be linked to number 34, as it was his promise to all supporters to ensure the 34th league title. It makes us proud that this song with historical value remains his.

"This number was also on his locker in the dressing room of the Ajax first team. He was very proud of that place, it was a sign for him that he was getting closer to his goal of being an important player for Ajax.

"It is a nice gift for all fans that it will be given a permanent place in the fan shop and therefore accessible to everyone.

"It is good that the discussion about liability and its consequences is a thing of the past and that we can look forward together.

"This will mainly focus on the great plans we have with the Abdelhak Nouri Foundation. We also want to do justice to the significance that Abdelhak has there, together with Ajax.

"We will be announcing the foundation and the plans in the near future."