Real Madrid's pursuit of Klaas Jan Huntelaar finally ended in success when they agreed a deal with Ajax for the Holland striker that could rise to €27million.
Both the Amsterdam side and the Spanish champions announced tonight that a deal had been struck to allow Huntelaar - a long-time target for the Spanish side - to join Madrid for an initial €20m.
The deal brings to an end months of speculation linking the 25-year-old with a move to the Spanish capital, talk which mounted further following the injury to Madrid's fellow Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is set to be sidelined until the end of the season.
In a statement released on the Real Madrid website, www.realmadrid.es, the club confirmed the signing saying: "Huntelaar is a new Real Madrid player. Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam have reached an agreement for the forward.
"As is normal, the deal is dependent on the player passing a medical and the signing of his contract with Real Madrid.
"Klaas Jan Huntelaar will be tied to Real Madrid until June 30th, 2013."
The deal will earn Dutch club Heerenveen €2.5million as part of the agreement Ajax signed when they bought the player in 2005.
