Former Ajax Cape Town player s

Lassina Traore of Ajax reacts during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and Fortuna Sittard at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 31 October 2020. EPA/Olaf Kraak

Former Ajax Cape Town player signs for Shakhtar Donetsk in R170 million deal

Former Ajax Cape Town Multichoice Diski Challenge player Lassina Traore has joined Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk from Ajax Amsterdam in a permanent deal.

Former Ajax Cape Town player s

Lassina Traore of Ajax reacts during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and Fortuna Sittard at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 31 October 2020. EPA/Olaf Kraak

Former Ajax Cape Town Multichoice Diski Challenge player Lassina Traore has joined Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk from Ajax Amsterdam in a permanent deal.

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Traore starred despite injury issues

Ajax announced the departure of Traore on their official website, in a deal that is reported to have cost Shakhtar R170 million in order to land the Burkina Faso forward.

Traore registered 10 goals in his nine appearances for the Dutch giants last season, in what proved to be an injury-riddled campaign. But it was not a season without joy, however, as he was able to make history by scoring five goals and laying off a further three assists in one Eredivise fixture against VVV-Venlo last year.

Shakhtar CEO comments

Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin spoke about Traore’s qualities upon the confirmation of his signing.

“He is the kind of player that suits any team: both offensive and defensive. He is a versatile footballer. A very powerful, he plays well aerially, being quite technical for a striker, plus he scores goals. If you look at him from all sides and evaluate him among the attackers, then Traore has virtually every quality we need,” said Palkin to the clubs official website.

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Palkin also eluded to the timing of Traore’s arrival as being very helpful to the club’s cause.

“Moreover, given the fact that Moraes is out for a very long period… May God grant him health, may he recover as soon as possible, but at the moment, I think, this position needed to be strengthened. And we did it.”

He is a product of the Ajax Cape Town MDC team

Traore spent just a few seasons as part of Ajax Cape Town’s reserve side structures before impressing former club Ajax Amsterdam to take him on board.

The 20-year old’s game has grown in leaps and bounds since that particular move and has since helped facilitate yet another upward step in his career.