Dusan Tadic agrees deal to leave Southampton and return to the Netherlands to join Ajax

Serbia midfielder leaves Saints after four years at St Mary’s

Dusan Tadic has agreed to leave Southampton to return to the Netherlands after agreeing an undisclosed deal with Eredivisie runners-up Ajax.

After four years with Southampton, the 29-year-old will start a new chapter in his career in familiar territory, having left FC Twente in the Netherlands to join Southampton back in 2014.

The Serbia international made 162 appearances for Saints, scoring 23 goals and famously set a record of four assists – as well as a scoring a goal of his own – in the 8-0 victory over Sunderland in October 2014 not long after his debut for the club.

Tadic has been one of the mainstays at Southampton among significant upheaval at the club, both in the dug-out and on the pitch. Having been signed as one of Ronald Koeman’s first additions when he replaced Mauricio Pochettino, Tadic has also played under Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes, with a number of his teammates being sold on during his time at the club.

Saints issued a short statement on their website thanking Tadic for his efforts, with Ajax set to become the third Dutch club that he has represented having also played for Groningen earlier in his career.

While Tadic is due to join Ajax this weekend, he will not meet up with his new squad until after the World Cup, with Serbia looking to keep their last-16 hopes alive as they take on Brazil in Wednesday’s evening kick-off with victory enough to take them through to the knockout rounds.

Dusan Tadic has agreed to leave Southampton for Ajax (Getty)

The deal comes a day after Southampton announced the signing of striker Stuart Armstrong from Celtic in a deal worth around £7m.