Sven Botman's old club Ajax will scoop €2.9million of the overall €55m deal that should make the centre-back a Newcastle United player next week.
Arrangements are in place for Botman to jet into Newcastle after Lille accepted the Magpies' massive bid for the Dutch centre-back. His flight will arrive on Monday as United look to complete their third summer signing after landing goalkeeper Nick Pope and left-back Matt Targett from Burnley and Aston Villa respectively.
But it could be the arrival of Botman that gets fans enthused more than any of the deals done by Newcastle so far. Should the deal get completed as expected they have signed one of the best young defenders in European football and had it not been for financial woes at AC Milan, he may have been playing Champions League football for the Italian giants.
READ MORE: Newcastle's Sven Botman deal could be completed next week
Instead, a long and lucrative contract lies in place with Amanda Staveley and the United board looking likely to get the centre-back they attempted to sign back in January from Lille. It is probably the French club that Newcastle fans have to thank for the Botman deal going through when it has too.
Indeed, it was on Friday morning that Lille Olivier Létang who effectively told Milan that "time is up" after giving the Rossoneri a large chunk of the closed season to come up with their bid. After being outfought by Newcastle financially Milan had to concede they weren't going to win the fight for Botman.
The large fee will be spread over a number of years but as confirmed by De Telegraaf in Holland, it is Ajax who will recoup €2.9million to go with the €9million they got when they sold Botman to Lille in 2020. It is believed that the initial fee of £31million could rise higher with add ons such as appearance milestones and progression to Europe.
READ NEXT
6ft 6in goalkeeper Newcastle United have added to their ranks in Nick Pope
Crazy quote for one-time target James Ward-Prowse that sums up summer window
Newcastle have already had a good window and it'll get even better
New mentality Newcastle United players must have to survive at St James' Park
Big Jamal Lewis question as Newcastle left-back set for pre-season chance
