FC Groningen's bid for Joris Kramer meets firm resistance from Go Ahead

FC Groningen have tabled a bid for 29‑year‑old defender Joris Kramer of Go Ahead Eagles, but the Dutch club has refused to cooperate, saying any move to Groningen is off the table. The club's general director Jan Willem van Dop said the chance of a transfer is zero and that they will decide the player's future themselves.

In June, reported that FC Groningen, known as De Trots van het Noorden, expressed interest in Kramer. The club views the 29‑year‑old as the ideal replacement for Dies Janse, who will return to Ajax next season.

FC Groningen made an initial offer for Kramer, but Go Ahead Eagles declined to accept it. The Eagles are unwilling to lose the defender this summer.

General director Jan Willem van Dop told DVHN that the chance of a transfer is zero, emphasizing the club's right to determine its own decisions while acknowledging the player's voice. He stressed that the player also has a say in his future.

During discussions with Kramer, Go Ahead discovered that FC Groningen had already approached the defender before the Eagles were informed. Van Dop argued that while clubs may conduct preliminary work, the prior contact complicated any potential move.

As a result, Go Ahead intends to retain Kramer for the upcoming season, leaving FC Groningen to seek alternative options for Janse's replacement. The stalemate underscores the differing approaches of the two clubs to player negotiations.