Real Madrid Add a Touch of Klaas

It has been confirmed that Klaas Jan Huntelaar will join Spanish champions Real Madrid in January.

The 25-year-old will sign a deal with Los Merengues until June 2013 once he passes a medical. Ajax's website indicates that Huntelaar will join Madrid on January 2nd for an initial 20million euros (£17m), rising to a potential 27million euros (£23m).

Verification was produced on Madrid's official website in a statement: ''Huntelaar is the new Real Madrid player. Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam have reached an agreement for the forward.

''As usual, 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 30, 2013.''

Fellow countrymen Ruud van Nistelrooy's long-term injury left the Spanish giants with a giant gap up front. Huntelaar is the solution, and Dutch club Heerenveen will receive around €2.5million as part of an agreement Ajax signed when they obtained his services in 2005.

A number of clubs were looking to sign the prolific striker, and the club turned down a huge offer from Manchester City. The Citizens wanted to throw money at him? What a shocker.

Ajax technical director Danny Blind believes it was the right time to let the player leave.

''We as a club wouldn't make a deal if we weren't satisfied with the details, but also with the timing of the transfer,'' he said. ''We did our best to extend Klaas Jan's contract, but we failed. His current contract runs for just one and a half years and we had to take that into account.

''After being at Ajax for three years it's a nice step in his career. He absolutely deserves this transfer.''

Ajax coach Marco Van Basten wasn't pleased with the time of the transfer.

''I don't begrudge him this transfer, but from a sporting perspective we would rather have seen him end the season here,'' he said.

''Obviously when a club like Real Madrid comes in, it's going to be very difficult to keep him. And as a club we must think of more than one player—it's all about having a future-proof policy.''

UEFA rules state that Huntelaar can be eligible for Madrid's Champions League due to only having competed with Ajax in the UEFA Cup.

''What we know is that he is a born goalscorer due to the amount of goals he has scored in the Dutch league, he is young and he could play in the Champions League. Anyone who comes here will be welcomed,'' Madrid defender Michel Salgado said.

The transfer market finally pays dividends for the Bernabeu club following the Cristiano Ronaldo saga in the summer.

Madrid President Ramon Calderon claimed the club were "very close to signing a winger and a striker in January."

''I've been told they are young and quick and they will come to reinforce the team,'' he said.

A poor start to the Primera Liga season has resulted in Madrid fans calling for replacements. Madrid are currently fourth in the table, six points behind leaders Barcelona.

Calderon was pushed into coming out to support coach Bernd Schuster yesterday for the second time in two weeks following a 3-1 defeat to Getafe on Saturday.

Since joining Ajax in January 2005, Huntelaar has become one of the most prolific strikers in Europe. He has scored a whopping 76 goals in 92 league matches for Amsterdam and netted 10 goals in 18 international appearances for the Netherlands.