Ajax has officially secured the signing of Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, completing a transfer with a base fee of €17.5 million. Performance-related add-ons could push that figure anywhere between €19 million and €25 million depending on how Leonardo’s time in Amsterdam unfolds.
The deal ties the 23-year-old to Ajax until 2031, giving the Dutch club a five-year window to develop one of Brazilian football’s more promising young forwards. Personal terms were agreed before medical tests cleared the way for the official announcement around July 12 to 13, 2026.
What Ajax is actually buying here
Leonardo is a center forward in the traditional mold: physical, direct, and comfortable playing as the focal point of an attack. His path to Amsterdam is an unusual one. Most top European clubs scout Brazilian talent through domestic league football or Portuguese football, which serves as a well-worn bridge. Leonardo took a detour through Saudi Arabia instead, joining Al-Hilal before Ajax came calling.
Ajax’s summer strategy and where Leonardo fits
