Newcastle United are nearing a deal to sign highly rated Ajax midfielder Sean Steur as they look to strengthen their squad following Sandro Tonali’s move to Tottenham Hotspur.
The Magpies now have significant funds available after Tonali completed a transfer to Spurs in a deal that could reach £100m, giving the club room to invest in new talent.
Steur, 18, is regarded as one of Ajax’s brightest academy products. The midfielder only agreed a new contract with the Dutch side last summer, but his current deal runs until 2028, creating a difficult situation for Ajax as his market value could begin to fall if he enters the final year of his agreement next summer.
After making his senior debut in December, Steur quickly became an important part of the Ajax first team. He earned a starting role shortly afterwards and impressed during the club’s De Klassieker victory over rivals Feyenoord.
His performances have also been backed up by strong statistics. According to Opta, among Eredivisie midfielders who started the season aged 18 or younger, Steur ranked first for chances created with 15, total carries with 231 and duel success rate at 56.8%.
He also placed second in several major categories, including completed passes (623), passing accuracy (89.7%), tackles (20), possessions won (49) and total duels won (46).
Newcastle see Steur as a long-term addition with major potential as they begin reshaping their midfield following Tonali’s exit.