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Resolution in contract case: Litmanen signs until 2004

07 September: Ajax has finally quelled the discussions and rumours about Jari Litmanen's four month contract with Ajax. The Amsterdam club offered the 31 year-old Finn a new contract, which officially ties him to Ajax for - at least - one year and ten months. Litmanen will now be an Ajacied until the summer of 2004.

Litmanen's signature on the revised contract puts an end to a few days of confusion, which started when media reports claimed that Litmanen's four month contract with Ajax (expiring at the end of this calendar year) was in violation of UEFA transfer regulations dictating that a player's contract should cover a period of at least one year.

Therefore, Litmanen's contract was reportedly invalid. However - contrary to what some Dutch media suggested - Litmanen's availability for domestic and European Ajax games has never been in doubt. KNVB and UEFA had already granted him official permission to play for Ajax. It is highly unlikely that this permission would have been undone.

Quite remarkably, the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) did not notice the irregularity of the transfer. Litmanen was released by Liverpool FC on a free transfer, after which Ajax announced that the player was signed for four months. The KNVB assumed that the deal was a loan. In that case, a contract for four months would not have been contrary to UEFA regulations.

Ajax has now extended Litmanen's contract to one year and four months, which means the Finn will be an Ajacied until after the 2003-2004 season. However, Ajax and Litmanen have agreed on two so-called 'evaluation moments' to see whether both parties want to carry on: in January 2003 and at season's end.

Meanwhile, Jari Litmanen flew to Helsinki for Finland's first Euro 2004 qualifier, at home against Wales on Saturday night. He will fly to Amsterdam after the game, for his 'back home' training session at the ArenA on Monday morning, 09 September, at 10:30 AM CET. Massive media attention is expected. Litmanen's 'homecoming' will be shown live on Ajax.nl, Ajax' official website. Both his first training and his official presentation to the press (at 1:30 PM CET) will be available on Ajax.nl. (MP)

(Source: Ajax.nl and VI Planet.nl)