Ukrainian winger Viktor Tsygankov has officially left Spanish side Girona to join Dutch club Ajax on a contract running until June 30, 2029.
The transfer fee paid for the player was 3.5 million euros, according to Spanish newspaper AS, with the Catalan club receiving that sum. Girona could also earn an additional 1 million euros in bonuses included in the agreement. Tsygankov will wear the number 11 shirt at Ajax.
Ajax sporting director Jordi Cruyff explained the decision to sign the winger, stating that the Dutch club was delighted to secure his signature. Cruyff said the arrival of Tsygankov adds an experienced player who will immediately reinforce the squad, noting that he is already familiar with the playing style Ajax wants to implement. Cruyff added that the club is working to make the winger available for match selection as soon as possible.
Career at Dynamo Kyiv and Girona
Tsygankov developed through the youth academy at Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv, eventually playing 236 matches for the senior team. He moved to Girona in January 2023, where he played 119 official matches during his spell in Spain. The winger also plays a key role for the Ukraine national team, having earned 67 international caps.
Girona, based in the Catalan city of the same name, had been competing in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football, prior to their recent relegation.
Dispute behind Girona departure
The transfer follows a period of conflict between Tsygankov and Girona. After the team was relegated to Segunda, the second division of Spanish football, the Ukrainian player indicated that he did not want to compete in the second tier and wished to continue his career at a higher level.
The situation escalated in August following a match against Leganes. Girona head coach Quique Alvarez publicly stated that Tsygankov had personally refused to come on as a substitute and had declined to change into his playing kit.
Representatives for the player strongly denied the head coach's account. In a statement, his representatives said Tsygankov had been called up for the match urgently despite medical and coaching staff having a report that confirmed he was unable to play for objective reasons.
The statement added that reports claiming the player had refused to play were published with the sole intention of smearing his image and professional commitment.
