Lazio Strike €15m Deal For Guendouzi Replacement As Medical Booked In
Lazio have wasted no time in securing Guendouzi's replacement.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 08 January 2026
Lazio have moved quickly to line up Matteo Guendouzi’s replacement, agreeing a deal with Ajax for midfielder Kenneth Taylor.
Guendouzi has joined Fenerbahce after Lazio agreed a deal with the Turkish club reportedly worth around €29m.
Losing a player of Guendouzi’s calibre is difficult, but Lazio have wasted no time in landing a very talented alternative.
Kenneth Taylor set to replace Matteo Guendouzi at Lazio
Speculation linking Lazio and Taylor emerged earlier this week, and things have been moving fast on that front.
Now, according to Sky Italia, the Biancocelesti have reached an agreement with Ajax worth €15m for Taylor.
The report adds that Taylor will be travelling to Rome on Thursday evening, ahead of a medical with Lazio on Friday.
Should everything go according to plan, Taylor will sign the contract that will officially kick off his new adventure in Serie A.
Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has reported that the Taylor deal includes a further €2m in add-ons.
Taylor will sign a contract with Lazio which will run until 2030, added the transfer insider.
What Lazio fans can expect from Kenneth Taylor
Taylor has spent his entire career at Ajax, progressing through the academy before establishing himself as a first-team regular in Amsterdam.
The 23-year-old arrives with significant senior experience, having made 184 first-team appearances for the Dutch club.
This season, Taylor has played 19 matches across the Eredivisie and Champions League, scoring two goals and providing four assists.
Taylor’s goal contribution tally this season is actually relatively low compared to last term.
In 2024/25, the Dutchman bagged an impressive 15 goals and eight assists from 52 outings.
🚨⚪️🔵 Kenneth Taylor to Lazio, here we go! Deal sealed now with Ajax for €15m plus €2m add-ons.
Taylor travels to Roma tonight for medical tests on Fridsy and then contract signing.
Contract until June 2030. pic.twitter.com/oueCEaEwZL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 8, 2026
Taylor has also featured five times for the Netherlands, with his most recent appearance coming in March 2025.
There have been comparisons between Taylor and Toni Kroos, a legend for Real Madrid and for Germany.
This is largely due to the two boasting similar passing range, composure and ability to dictate tempo.
‘Both Kroos and Taylor play a similar role when in possession, looking to find the best attacking option possible while also playing safe,’ wrote Total Football Analysis.
They even speculated Taylor ‘could go on as a replacement for Toni Kroos at Real Madrid in the future.’
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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