Ajax Amsterdam has ended its pursuit of Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos after weeks of negotiations failed to produce an agreement. The talks reportedly broke down over the player’s salary expectations and uncertainty about whether he was prepared to move to the Eredivisie.

Ceballos, 29, became a free agent after mutually parting ways with Real Madrid in mid-2026. He had been one of Ajax’s leading targets during the early stages of the summer transfer window, as the Dutch club looked to strengthen its midfield under new manager Míchel.

Ajax withdraws from Ceballos talks

Ajax’s interest in Ceballos was substantial. Míchel identified the midfielder as an important candidate to help rebuild the club’s central midfield, with the former Real Madrid player viewed as a technical and experienced option capable of supporting that transition.

Although Ceballos was available without a transfer fee, the financial structure of a free-agent deal remained a major obstacle. Free transfers can still involve significant costs, including higher wage demands, signing bonuses, and agent fees. Ceballos’ reported salary expectations were above the level Ajax was willing to commit to, while questions also remained over the player’s willingness to continue his career in the Netherlands.

Ajax officially confirmed its withdrawal from the pursuit, ending a process that had occupied a significant part of the club’s early summer transfer planning. The decision leaves the club needing to redirect its midfield search while balancing sporting priorities under Míchel with the financial limits that shaped the Ceballos talks.

Real Betis emerges as frontrunner

Real Betis, the Seville-based club where Ceballos developed as a young player, has now emerged as the frontrunner for his signature. The Spanish club offers a different context for the midfielder, including a return to La Liga and a possible move back to the academy where he grew up.

The collapse of Ajax’s effort also highlights the challenge clubs outside Europe’s traditional top five leagues can face when trying to attract established players from clubs such as Real Madrid. Persuading a former Real Madrid midfielder to move to the Eredivisie can require either a major financial package or a strong connection to the project, and Ajax was unable to provide enough of either.

Ceballos joined Real Madrid from Real Betis in 2017. During his time in Madrid, he struggled to secure a consistent first-team role and often spent periods away from the club on loan. With Ajax now out, the focus shifts to whether Betis can turn its position as frontrunner into an agreement with a player who remains free to choose his next club.