Joel Veltman has hinted he was blocked from leaving Ajax over the summer.

The defender was a target for West Ham United.

"Looking back makes no sense, I'm going full speed ahead," said the defender to De Telegraaf.

“I have never made it a secret to look further. That was the case two years ago before my injury and the same last summer.

"My dream of a foreign adventure remains."

Pressed about the Hammers, he continued: “No, I don't mention the name either, because that is not a good thing for that club. The trainer (Erik ten Hag) informed me before the holiday that he would like to keep me.

"When concrete interest arose later, the Ajax management and the trainer again indicated that they would not let me go."