Johan Derksen slams Ajax-transfer as wildly overestimated

The 77‑year‑old Johan Derksen blasted the Ajax‑transfer of midfielder Sean Steur to Newcastle United, saying the move is totally overestimated. Speaking on Vandaag at 16:53, he argued the young Dutch player will not succeed in England and that the deal is driven by money. According to Derksen, Steur is physically not up to the highest tier in England, describing him as ‘not ready’ and warning that his father has overestimated his son’s abilities. De journalist Valentijn Driessen concurred, stating ‘the transfer is only about the money’ and noting that the father has been the main force pushing for a swift exit. Derksen had expected Steur to remain at Ajax for another two years, believing the midfielder still possessed many qualities that could be honed at the club.

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Driessen suggested that after such a period Steur could have delivered more and perhaps even earned an Oranje shirt, increasing his status. The former player, who previously featured for SC Cambuur, Veendam and HFC Haarlem, was described by both men as a ‘Volendammer’ whose value is now reduced to cash. During the segment ‘ Oranje’, Derksen asked Driessen who represented Steur, to which Driessen replied that he did not know the agent but confirmed the father’s decisive role. The criticism reflects a wider trend of Dutch clubs selling promising talent for financial gain, a pattern that Derksen and Driessen argue undermines long‑term player development.