Newcastle United are close to completing a £23 million deal for Ajax midfielder Sean Steur, according to sources in the Netherlands. The 18-year-old Dutch talent, who has made 25 senior appearances for Ajax, is seen as a potential replacement for Sandro Tonali, whose future at the club remains uncertain.
Contract Blunder Paves Way for Move
Steur's contract situation at Ajax played a key role in the transfer. He was expected to sign a new deal until 2030, but after the departure of technical director Alex Kroes—replaced by Jordi Cruyff—no agreement was reached. Kroes commented on the dispute: "The media suggested that the Supervisory Board had interfered in this matter. I can reveal that the SB had no say or involvement whatsoever. It was an internal discussion, but we said, 'You should stay at Ajax, we will help you develop.'"
The deal includes a 12.5% sell-on clause, giving Ajax a share of any future transfer fee. Newcastle are believed to have exploited the contractual uncertainty to secure Steur's signature.
Midfield Reinforcements Needed
Newcastle's pursuit of Steur comes as they look to bolster their midfield. Sandro Tonali's position is under scrutiny, and Bruno Guimaraes' future is also unclear, making the midfield a priority. Steur, who can play as a No. 6 or No. 8, fits the profile of a young, dynamic player. He is represented by the same agency—THE TEAM—as Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, which may have facilitated negotiations.
Steur only signed a contract until 2028 last August, saying at the time: "I hope to play more minutes in the Johan Cruijff ArenA this year; that is a dream." He went on to make 24 appearances in the 2025-26 season as Ajax finished a disappointing fifth in the Eredivisie.
Rise Through the Ranks
Steur began his youth career at RKAV Volendam before joining Ajax's academy. He has three caps for the Netherlands Under-19 team and has been nominated for the Dutch Golden Boy award. Ajax's Director of Football, Marijn Beuker, praised him: "He is a great talent and has been promoted early for a reason over the past few years. Sean is a dynamic midfielder who can dribble well and always looks for solutions going forward. We have a lot of confidence in a bright future for him at our club."
