Liverpool striker Jari Litmanen is returning to his former club Ajax Amsterdam next month.
The deal with Ajax is initially for four months with a year-and-a-half extension to be considered in January. Ajax did not disclose the financial details of the move.
The Finnish international (31) spent seven years at the Dutch club before moving to Barcelona in 1999. "Jari leaves a difficult time at Liverpool behind him. I hope for him and for Ajax that Jari will return to being the Jari of old in Amsterdam," club director Arie van Eijden said today.
Litmanen made only 12 league starts for Liverpool since joining them from Barcelona on a free transfer in January 2001. Liverpool gave Litmanen permission to speak to Turkish side Galatasaray earlier this week.
Litmanen scored 126 goals in 224 games for Ajax before he moved to Spain. He will rejoin the Dutch champions on September 9th as coach Ronald Koeman prepares his squad for their opening Champions League game against Olympique Lyon at home on September 17th.