Ajax splashes €20m on Brazilian striker Leonardo in bid for goals

Ajax has secured the services of 23‑year‑old Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo Santos Almeida on a five‑year deal, paying the Saudische club Al‑Hilal a transfer sum of just under €20 million, the club announced. The move sees the Amsterdammers add a proven goal‑scorer to their attacking line‑up.

Technical director Jordi Cruijff said the club had been “charmed by Marcos for a long time” and praised his experience despite his youth, noting his record of more than 250 official matches and over a hundred goals. Cruijff added that Leonardo’s primary task at Ajax will be to find the back of the net, a responsibility the club fully trusts him with.

Leonardo was born in Itapetinga, Brazil, and began his professional journey at Santos, the historic club where Pelé once starred. He signed his first professional contract at the end of 2019 and, over 168 appearances for Santos, tallied 54 goals.

In early 2024 he transferred to Benfica in Portugal, where he featured in 24 matches and scored eight times for the top‑flight side.

Nine months after joining Benfica, Leonardo moved to the Saudi Premier League with Al‑Hilal, amassing 48 goals in 82 appearances for the Saudi club.

Cruijff’s statement highlighted Leonardo’s cumulative experience: more than 250 professional matches and a century of goals, underscoring the depth of his résumé before arriving in the Netherlands.

For Ajax, the acquisition provides a forward with a strong scoring pedigree and international experience, while Leonardo gains the platform of the Eredivisie to further his development and showcase his talent on a new stage.