Sean Steur's journey from fearing he would be overlooked at Ajax to becoming a player many Newcastle United fans want to see start has been remarkable. The 18-year-old chose to leave the Dutch giants over concerns about being sidelined this season, and Newcastle cashed in on that uncertainty.
In about six months, Steur has gone from one end of the spectrum to the other. Head coach Matthias Jaissle has been taken aback by how often he is asked about Steur's performance plan, and he has felt the wrath of fans and reporters when the Dutch youngster was left out.
A telling cameo in the Carabao Cup
At the Stadium of Light, with Newcastle limping out of the Carabao Cup at 3-0 down, Steur was introduced with nine minutes to go. He came on as Newcastle grabbed a consolation goal through Dan Burn, but the ironic cheers from the 8,000 travelling fans were telling for Jaissle.
Dutch journalist Daan Sutorius has watched Steur's rise from Ajax's youth ranks to Newcastle's first team closer than anybody in the media. He admits that even he is shocked by Newcastle's reliance on the teenager, even if his quality shining through comes as no surprise to him whatsoever.
Sutorius of Het Parool newspaper, the top Ajax reporter in Amsterdam, told Chronicle Live: "To be honest: no (he can't believe how much Newcastle are relying on Steur). I always thought Sean Steur was one of Ajax’s biggest talents, partly because his style of play suited Ajax perfectly.
"He’s positionally smart, always finds the free man, is two-footed and technically gifted. I just didn’t expect him to be physically ready for the Premier League. At Ajax he was often subbed after 60 minutes. I expected him to need a year to adapt. That he has the potential to be good enough for Newcastle, and probably for even bigger clubs, I never doubted."
Why patience remains the watchword
Jaissle's concerns and Sutorius's observations tie together neatly. Steur has not played 90 minutes yet for Newcastle, either being withdrawn before the end or thrown on for a cameo role. Jaissle told Chronicle Live before the international break: "I think he is good, he's fine. But he felt the physicality which is not 100% there yet."
Sutorius, who covers Ajax's every move, told Chronicle Live from Holland: "Steur only made his debut in February 2025 under Francesco Farioli (a 4-0 win over Heracles). Ajax lost the title on the penultimate matchday. Farioli was a phenomenal manager, but he didn’t give youngsters many chances. Steur mostly played for Jong Ajax, in the Dutch second tier.
"Farioli left for FC Porto in the summer, and John Heitinga became head coach. Steur had a good pre-season. He was promised playing time, but that didn’t materialise. He came close to a loan move to FC Volendam, but at the last minute Ajax decided not to let him go after all. Heitinga was sacked after 15 games.
"Fred Grim took over as interim coach and gave more chances to homegrown players. Rayane Bounida, Aaron Bouwman, Jorthy Mokio and Sean Steur all got plenty of minutes. Results improved slightly. Steur played a number of good games, including in the Champions League, for example against Qarabag. Grim was then succeeded by Oscar Garcia, who finished the season. He played Steur slightly less often, although Steur still scored against Feyenoord. This was his breakthrough season.
"I think Steur would have fitted Míchel’s style of football well. Míchel is Ajax’s current coach. But in talks with technical director Jordi Cruyff, Steur got the feeling that many new players would be brought in and that there was no plan for him. At Newcastle, he was presented with a detailed plan. His departure came as a shock. He was well regarded by the club and the supporters. I think Cruyff would also have preferred to keep him at Ajax, but Ajax could put the money, £23 million, to good use."
A deal worth £23m and a bright future
The reality is Ajax, not for the first time, have cashed their chips in too early, with Newcastle accelerating their plans for a move last summer. It was sporting director Ross Wilson who personally scouted the midfielder and noticed that Steur, with his team being roundly booed by the fans in Amsterdam, was the only one who kept playing.
That is why a deal worth £23m in total was thrashed out. Despite Eddie Howe having no say in signing the teenager at the time, his replacement in Jaissle was happy to have him on board.
Sutorius commented: "For someone with around 20 appearances at the highest level, it’s a lot of money. But everyone also knew there was a good chance Steur would become worth much more. In an ideal scenario, he would have stayed at Ajax for two more years and then been sold for double. I think Newcastle have struck a good deal. If they manage to develop him further, he’ll be worth a lot more."
Internally, Newcastle can't believe what they have got for their money, with Dutch team-mate and fellow countryman Sven Botman saying: "For his age, Sean is ridiculously good. When I was 18, I was playing second team for Ajax, so it’s amazing. He’s so young, and has so much improving to do but the sky is the limit for him."
A big part of Steur's early success story is how quickly he has settled in on Tyneside. Steur himself said: "My parents and brothers try and watch every home game. My oldest brother wears a Newcastle jersey four times a week! Yeah, they’re becoming adopted Geordies - he wears the shirts and everything - but the family are always there for me and enjoy it!"
As Newcastle knuckle down for the run-up to the festive period, with five crucial games to come, including the Tyne-Wear derby, Steur is set to be a major part of it all. His energetic performances in midfield can help Jaissle keep fans and critics onside, but the player's own on-field welfare and development plan will not be compromised.
