Lazio Lands Ajax Defender Sutalo on Loan

Lazio has finalized an agreement with Ajax for the transfer of Croatian defender Josip Sutalo. This deal comes as a significant development for the Italian club, especially after their planned signing of striker Bamba Dieng was called off due to a failed medical examination. Sutalo's move to Lazio is structured as an initial loan valued at €3 million, with an embedded option to purchase the player permanently for €7.5 million. Ajax will also retain a 10% share of any future resale profit.

Sutalo, a former Dynamo Zagreb standout who moved to Ajax in 2023, brings extensive experience with over 100 appearances for the Dutch club and for the Croatian national team. His arrival is deemed crucial for Lazio's current defensive line-up, which has been thinned by long-term injuries to Patric and Samuel Gigot, and uncertainty surrounding Alessio Romagnoli. The club sees Sutalo as a vital reinforcement ahead of the upcoming season.