Roma completes signing of teenage phenom Justin Kluivert from Ajax

AS Roma announced Friday that the club has officially completed the signing of teenage forward Justin Kluivert from Ajax for an initial €17.25 million.

The 19-year-old phenom - the son of former Barcelona and Netherlands striker Patrick Kluivert - joined the Giallorossi on a five-year contract in a move that includes multiple performance-related bonuses and a potential sell-on clause.

"I think Roma is a great club for me," the younger Kluivert told the club's website. "I think they can build me into a bigger, stronger player and I can do some nice things here."

He came through Ajax's famed youth academy, being coached by his father for the club's under-19 side, before making his first-team debut in January 2017.

Kluivert can play centrally or wide in attack. In his first season as a regular in Amsterdam last term, he scored 10 goals in 30 games as Ajax finished second in the Eredivisie, behind PSV Eindhoven.

His form and obvious talent were thought to have attracted European suitors including Manchester United, which had been tipped for a summer bid.

However, the full Netherlands international has instead committed to Roma, a Champions League semi-finalist this season, and will hope to see his star rise even further.

"I think that Justin is already one of the most exciting young players in European football," declared Roma sporting director Monchi.