Heitinga leaves Ajax, joins Atletico

Ajax Amsterdam's Netherlands defender John Heitinga has agreed to sign a five-year deal with Atletico Madrid, he told Tuesday's De Telegraaf newspaper.

"I'm thrilled. This is a fantastic next step in my career and I will miss Ajax unbelievably," he was quoted as saying.

The 24-year-old international said he had reached an agreement to join the Primera Liga side but the clubs had yet to discuss payment terms for the transfer fee.

Heitinga has a clause in his contract stating that the maximum fee Ajax can demand is 10 million euros ($15.58 million) and the defender said Atletico would pay that sum.

Heitinga, who has 32 caps, made his Ajax debut aged 17 in 2001 after coming through their youth system.

"It is a pity, but also understandable, that a player who has played for Ajax for 17 years wants to play somewhere else," Ajax technical director Martin van Geel told De Telegraaf.

"We have tried for months to keep him in Amsterdam. Most times players leave Ajax just when they have reached their best, just like Wesley Sneijder last year."

Netherlands midfielder Sneijder joined Spanish champions Real Madrid for 27 million euros last August.