Ajax captain Steven Bergwijn has been sold to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad for €21 million in the largest transfer of a relatively quiet summer.

The sale represents a loss on a player who arrived from Tottenham Hotspur two years ago for €30 million, having failed to establish himself as a first-team player in London.

Bergwijn, who scored 29 goals in 80 matches for Ajax, said he was in no hurry to leave the club, but new coach Francesco Farioli made clear he was not guaranteed a place in the starting line-up.

National team head coach Ronald Koeman said the move was likely to mean the end of Bergwijn’s international career. The 26-year-old has scored eight goals in 35 apperances for Oranje, but was substituted at half-time in the knockout matches against Romania and Turkey during Euro 2024.

Koeman queries ambition

Speaking at a press conference ahead of this week’s international matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Germany, Koeman contrasted Bergwijn’s move with that of Georginio Wijnaldum, who was called up for Euro 2024 despite playing at El-Ettifaq.

“Gini went over there because he was having problems at Paris Saint-Germain and he was quite a bit older as well,” Koeman said. “In Steven’s case, taking this step at the age of 26 suggests that sporting ambition wasn’t his main priority.”

The Telegraaf reported Bergwijn would earn an annual salary of €9 million during his three years in Saudi Arabia.

“I’m glad to have put it behind me,” he told ESPN. “I didn’t have to leave, I was happy at Ajax. But in the end you have to think of yourself.”

Technical director Alex Kroes had planned to sell several players during the summer period to raise money for new recruits, but the sale of Bergwijn on transfer deadline day was the club’s only major piece of business.

“Steven and Ajax have made no secret of the fact that, if a good offer came from abroad, he would make the move,” Kroes said on the club’s official website.

Ajax and Al-Ittihad have reached an agreement on the transfer of Steven Bergwijn.

Good luck, Stevie! ❌❌❌

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) September 2, 2024

Ajax are hoping to unveil Kamaldeen Sulemana as Bergwijn’s replacement later on Tuesday. The 22-year-old Ghanaian international, who is currently at Southampton, agreed a season-long loan deal before the transfer deadline on Monday, but the paperwork still has to be approved by the KNVB.

A last-minute bid to sign Belgian midfielder Mike Trésor from Burnley reportedly fell through when the English club’s loan terms were deemed too costly, while Kroes turned down a chance to buy Moroccan midfielder Azzedine Ounahi from Olympique Marseille.

There was deadline day disappointment for Feyenoord, who had been hoping to sign Spanish winger Assane Diao from Real Betis, but the deal fell through at the last minute because of “problems on the player’s side”.