Ajax midfielder Sean Steur is on the verge of joining Newcastle United after the two clubs reached an agreement overnight, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old was initially named in Ajax’s squad for a pre-season training camp in the Dutch town of Garderen. However, Steur left the camp early on Tuesday morning after Newcastle made their move for the highly rated youngster.

The transfer negotiations progressed quickly, with Newcastle’s interest first emerging shortly after midnight CEST before a deal was reportedly agreed within an hour. The Magpies are expected to pay up to €27 million for the Ajax midfielder.

The transfer came as a surprise, as Steur was one of the few players not included in technical director Jordi Cruyff’s summer overhaul. Cruyff had made 21 players available for transfer through the TransferRoom platform, but Steur was not among those expected to leave.

The 18-year-old central midfielder is considered one of Ajax’s most promising young talents. He made his senior debut for the club in January 2025 under manager Francesco Farioli and developed into a regular first-team option during the 2025-26 season. In total, Steur has made 26 appearances across all competitions for Ajax, including 19 starts, scoring one goal and registering two assists.

Contract situation

Steur had reached a verbal agreement with Ajax over a two-year contract extension, which would have kept him at the club until 2028. That arrangement was made with former technical director Alex Kroes, who departed his role in February before Jordi Cruyff took over.

However, Steur and his father Johan, who manages his son’s affairs, were unable to finalise the same agreement with Cruyff. The new technical director reportedly could not offer assurances over regular playing time, particularly after fellow 18-year-old midfielder Jorthy Mokio extended his contract with Ajax in April, increasing competition for places in midfield.