Eredivisie giants Ajax have reportedly rejected a £16m bid from MLS CLub Atlanta United for Steven Bergwijn.
The Amsterdam-born forward had emerged as a top transfer target for Atlanta United, who are hoping to boost their front lines in the ongoing MLS campaign. He is also linked to a return to the Premier League and has scored 12 goals each in his two seasons with Ajax, providing nine assists.
Newly promoted Premier League side Leicester City are said to be interested in the PSV Academy graduate but are trailing Atlanta United in the race for the player. Ajax are reportedly open to parting ways with Bergwijn but at the right offer. The Netherlands international has two years left on his contract.
According to Dutch outlets, Atlanta United’s £16m bid for Bergwijn is their first. They are expected to table another improved offer for the 26-year-old.
Who is Steven Bergwijn?
Steven Charles Bergwijn is a Dutch professional football player, playing for Dutch club Ajax and the Dutch senior national team. Bergwijn, who plays as a left-winger, began his career in the Netherlands, playing for ASC Waterwijk Youth before joining Ajax Youth in 2005. He spent six years at Ajax Academy before moving to PSG Eindhoven Academy in 2011, where he subsequently made his first senior club career appearance.
Steven Bergwijn career
Bergwijn registered his first senior club career with Jong PSV – PSV reserve team – in 2014 after playing for the club’s Academy for three years. He made 31 league appearances for the side, scoring 14 goals.
While still active in the PSV reserve team, Bergwijn also had spells with the club’s first team from 2014 when he graduated from the club’s academy. He juggled his nascent football career, playing for both PSV main and reserve teams. He made 112 Eredivisie appearances with the main team, scoring 12 goals.
Following an impressive campaign with the Eredivisie giants, Bergwijn attracted the interest of Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur. He was signed in 2020 by the London outfit for £26.7m on a five-year contract.
Bergwijn would spend two seasons in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, tallying 60 Premier League appearances and scoring seven goals before he returned to the Dutch league, signing for Ajax in January 2022 on a five-year contract. He has made 22 league appearances for the Eredivisie giants, scoring 45 goals.
Steven Bergwijn international career stats
Bergwijn played for Netherlands U-17, U-18, U-19, U-20, and U-21 before he earned his call-up to the Dutch senior national team. He made 42 appearances across the youth levels, scoring 21 goals before making the senior national team debut in 2018. The Amsterdam-born forward has been capped 35 times with Clockwork Orange, scoring eight times.
Steven Bergwijn contract
Bergwijn has a running five-year contract with Ajax. The 26-year-old penned down his current deal with the Dutch outfit in 2022 when he joined from North London. He has two years left on his contract but could leave this summer amidst interest from other clubs.
Steven Bergwijn salary
Steven Bergwijn’s estimated annual salary with Ajax is £3,900,000. His weekly wage is ££75,000.
Steven Bergwijn celebrations
Steven Bergwijn is known for his trademark goal celebration in which he usually puts his left fingers on his face. Explaining the celebration, the forward admitted that there is no secret behind the celebration but just an inspiration from his playing FIFA with his friends.
“It is nothing special, it has just come from when I play FIFA with friends,” he told Dutch outlet Voetball in 2023.
