One of the most exciting young soccer players in Europe is making a big move! Spanish winger Raúl Moro has officially joined Ajax, one of the most famous clubs in the Netherlands. The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract, and fans in Amsterdam are thrilled to see what he brings to the pitch.
But who is Raúl Moro? And why are so many people excited about him?
Let’s break it all down in a way that’s easy to understand—and along the way, we’ll learn some cool soccer facts too!
Who Is Raúl Moro?
Raúl Moro is a young soccer player from Spain, a country known for producing world-class talents like Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, and David Villa. Moro plays as a winger, which means he usually stays on the left or right sides of the field, helping his team by dribbling, crossing the ball, and even scoring goals.
He started his professional career in Spain and most recently played for Real Valladolid, a team that competed in La Liga, Spain’s top soccer league.
At just 22 years old, Moro already has a lot of experience. Last season, even though Real Valladolid didn’t have the best year and ended up getting relegated (which means they moved down to a lower division), Moro was one of the brightest stars on the team. In 33 league matches, he scored 4 goals and gave 5 assists—a solid performance for a young player on a struggling team.
⚽ Soccer Fact #1: A “goal” is when a player successfully gets the ball into the opponent’s net. An “assist” is when a player helps another player score a goal, like passing them the ball just before the goal.
🇪🇸 U21 Euros: Shining for Spain
Recently, Raúl Moro played in the U21 European Championship. This tournament is where national teams made up of players under 21 years old (hence the name “U21”) compete against each other to see which country has the best young talent.
Moro played in four matches for Spain’s U21 team and provided two assists, helping his country reach the final stages of the tournament. This showed scouts and clubs around Europe that he can perform well, even on an international stage.
⚽ Soccer Fact #2: The U21 Euros have been the starting point for many future stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Marco Verratti.
What Ajax Had to Say
Ajax’s Director of Football, Alex Kroes, was very excited to announce the signing. Here’s what he said:
“It’s no secret that we’ve been fond of this player for quite some time and have been in contact with him for a while. That’s why we’re very pleased to have been able to officially welcome Raúl to Amsterdam.”
He also mentioned that many clubs were interested in signing Raúl, but the player chose Ajax because he believes in their sporting vision—that means the way the team wants to grow and succeed.
“He’s quick, technically skilled, capable of playing on both flanks, and able to beat his opponent both on the inside and the outside. I’m convinced he’s going to bring us a lot of joy,” Kroes added.
⚽ Soccer Fact #3: Ajax is famous for developing young talent. Some of the world’s best players, like Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp, Frenkie de Jong, and Matthijs de Ligt, came through Ajax’s youth system.
The Deal: What Did Ajax Pay?
Ajax reportedly paid around €10 million for Moro. That’s a big amount of money, especially for a player his age! If Moro plays really well, there are bonuses in the contract that could increase the fee to €11.5 million.
⚽ Soccer Fact #4: Transfer fees are how clubs “buy” players. The buying club pays money to the selling club in exchange for the rights to have that player on their team.
Moro’s new contract with Ajax will last five years, meaning he’s expected to stay at the club until 2030, unless another team buys him before that.
Almost Signed in January
Interestingly, Ajax actually tried to sign Raúl Moro earlier this year in January. But that deal didn’t go through because Moro suffered a shoulder injury at the time, and the club decided to wait until he recovered.
Now, he’s back to full health and ready to make his mark in Amsterdam.
⚽ Soccer Fact #5: Injuries are a big part of sports. Teams are usually very careful about signing injured players, as they want to make sure they can play soon after joining.
Joining a Strong Attack
Raúl Moro will join a group of talented attacking players at Ajax. This includes:
Bertrand Traoré, a former Chelsea player known for his creativity and flair.
Steven Berghuis, one of Ajax’s most experienced wingers and a key playmaker.
Rayane Bounida, a young player who is already being called a future star.
With these teammates, Moro will have both competition and support, which should help him grow even faster.
Small But Mighty
One interesting fact about Raúl Moro is that he’s not very tall. He stands at just 1.69 meters (around 5 feet 6 inches). But don’t let his size fool you! Many soccer legends—like Lionel Messi (1.70m)—aren’t very tall, but they make up for it with speed, balance, and amazing skills.
Moro is known for his quick feet, sharp dribbling, and ability to beat defenders one-on-one. He’s dangerous both on the inside, cutting in to shoot, and the outside, where he can deliver crosses into the box.
What’s Next for Raúl Moro?
Now that he’s officially an Ajax player, Raúl Moro will begin training with the team and preparing for the new season. Fans are excited to see him in action, wearing the famous red and white Ajax jersey.
This move could be a big step in Moro’s career. If he plays well in the Eredivisie (the top Dutch league) and European competitions like the UEFA Europa League, he could become one of the next big stars from Spain.
⚽ Soccer Fact #6: The Eredivisie is the highest level of soccer in the Netherlands. It has produced many top players and clubs that compete in Europe every year.
Final Thoughts
Raúl Moro’s journey from Spain to the Netherlands is just beginning. At only 22 years old, he has lots of time to grow, learn, and shine on the big stage. Ajax believes in him, and now the world will be watching to see what he does next.
Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll be talking about Raúl Moro as one of the best players in Europe.
Stay tuned—and don’t forget to keep practicing your own soccer skills too!
