NEC Remains Firm on Kodai Sano Transfer Despite Multiple Bids

NEC has made it clear that they will not entertain any discussions regarding the transfer of Kodai Sano. Ajax submitted two bids for the Japanese midfielder, while Nottingham Forest also expressed interest.

The English club made a last-minute offer of €20 million for Sano’s services, but this proposal was swiftly rejected. Kenneth Perez expressed his disbelief at the situation, calling the refusal ‘criminal’.

Wilco van Schaik, the General Director of NEC, wasted no time in addressing the matter: “Sano is not going anywhere during this transfer window. He will remain with us, and he will definitely not be joining Ajax.” There is evident frustration in Nijmegen regarding Ajax’s approach. According to Omroep Gelderland, “PSV and Feyenoord have approached NEC properly, but Ajax engaged in negotiations with the Japanese midfielder without the knowledge of the Nijmegen club.”

Voetbal International reported that there is considerable annoyance at NEC over the ‘games’ being played by Ajax and Sano’s representatives in the media to unsettle the player. It is clear that NEC is not open to discussions, as other interested clubs such as Crystal Palace and VfL Wolfsburg have also reached out recently. These clubs have indicated a willingness to offer more than Ajax’s initial bid, yet they too received a firm ‘no’ from NEC.