Kenneth Taylor Makes Move from Ajax to Lazio

Kenneth Taylor, a 23-year-old midfielder from the Netherlands, has left Ajax to join Lazio during this transfer period, following interest from FC Porto last summer.

Agent Confirms Interest from FC Porto

During an interview on the Dutch program Goedemorgen Eredivisie with ESPN, Taylor’s agent, Guido Albers, revealed that the midfielder had attracted an offer from FC Porto.

Wolverhampton’s Proposal Set Expectations

“Initially, Wolverhampton submitted a bid exceeding 30 million euros. This amount established the standard we were aiming for, and it was a key focus for Ajax throughout the summer,” Albers elaborated, noting that the Premier League option did not seem suitable for Taylor, especially compared to the approach from FC Porto.

Ajax’s Reluctance to Deal with FC Porto

“Ajax perceived FC Porto as a lesser club, and were thus hesitant to engage in negotiations with them on financial grounds. There was a lack of trust, which caused the transfer to collapse at the last moment,” Albers explained further.

Negotiations Almost Concluded

“The contracts were nearly finalized, with FC Porto’s last proposal being 22 million euros, but Ajax deemed it insufficient,” Taylor’s agent disclosed.

According to Albers, Taylor was eager to reunite with Francesco Farioli, yet Ajax maintained a rigid stance against collaborating with FC Porto.

Taylor’s Impact at Ajax Before Transfer

Taylor remained at Ajax, featuring in 19 matches and contributing two goals and four assists before making the switch to Lazio for a fee of 17 million euros, five million less than the final offer from FC Porto.

Critique of Ajax’s Handling of Taylor

“It was disheartening to see Ajax being inflexible regarding a player who rose through their own academy. I found that troubling. This situation could have set a positive example for cooperation. Ajax had indicated their willingness to facilitate a transfer in the winter window, and they honored that agreement,” Albers stated.

Kenneth Taylor, Flashscore