Marc Overmars must repay the signing bonus of 1.25 million euros to Ajax, according to a press statement from the club. The team from Amsterdam announced the half-year figures on Friday afternoon and took the opportunity to go deeper into the situation around Overmars. “The Supervisory Board emphasizes that there is no redundancy scheme and that the fully prepaid amount of EUR 1.25 million must be repaid.”
“On January 26, 2022, an employee informed the general manager about signals that the director of football affairs may have been misbehaving,” Ajax writes in the press statement. “After receiving the signal, the chairman of the Supervisory Board was informed. This happened on Thursday 27 January 2022, a day before the Special General Meeting of Shareholders (EGM) in which the reappointment of the director of football affairs was discussed. .”
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According to Ajax, at that time there was only a question of ‘a single signal without facts, names or data’. “The nature and seriousness were not yet known at that time. It was considered whether the EGM should be postponed, but there was too little information for that at that time. This could have also led to a lot of unrest and questions, which were also could not yet be answered. Moreover, postponing the EGM could be experienced as unsafe by the affected employees, which could be at the expense of the truth finding.”
The club then decided on 27 to involve an independent expert in the case. “The expert’s advice showed that the confidentiality of the signal was crucial for a careful investigation and the necessary truth-finding. It then took several days of external research and several conversations to get an accurate picture of the nature and scope of the cross-border behaviour. In the decision to allow the EGM to go ahead, it was taken into account that this would not have irreversible consequences. If the signals were insufficiently justified, the reappointment would remain in effect. And if the signals gave cause to do so, would it be possible to terminate the management agreement and terminate the contract.”
Bonus
Ultimately, Overmars himself decided to step down as director of football affairs at Ajax. “The Supervisory Board emphasizes that there is no redundancy scheme and that the fully prepaid signing fee of 1.25 million must be repaid. The cross-border behavior is drastic for the women who have had to deal with this. Good aftercare is of great importance This is important and this has been initiated. Ajax will take steps towards a safer sports and work climate and will be assisted by an external specialized agency. This agency has launched an investigation and comes up with recommendations that will be followed up with the help of experts.”
Ajax announced last December with a playful video that Overmars would extend his contract until 2024 by two years. Due to his sporting and financial successes as a director, Overmars was in good standing at many clubs, including Arsenal and the purchasing power of Newcastle United. From documents of the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting (EGM) of January 28 discovered RTL News that the much-discussed former left winger would receive a hefty bonus through his signature, worth 1.25 million euros.