Newcastle complete £23m signing of Sean Steur from Ajax

Newcastle United have secured the signing of midfielder Sean Steur from Ajax in a deal worth £23 million, with the 18-year-old putting pen to paper on a five-year contract. The Premier League club will pay an initial £20 million, with a further £3 million in potential add-ons. Steur becomes Newcastle's third arrival of the summer window, following the £42 million capture of winger Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim and the £18 million addition of goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Reims. The moves come after the departures of Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, who left for a combined £169 million. Steur, who came through Ajax's academy after joining from RKAV Volendam at age seven, made his senior debut in the 2024-25 campaign and broke into the first team last season with 25 appearances across all competitions. He featured three times in the Champions League, becoming the club's youngest ever player to provide an assist in the competition. He was also awarded the Abdelhak Nouri Trophy, Ajax's annual prize for the best academy talent, following in the footsteps of Ryan Gravenberch, Christian Eriksen, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart. The Dutch youth international, who has represented the Netherlands from U15 to U19 level, said: "It's an incredible feeling to be here. It's a giant club in the Premier League and it was always my dream to play in the best league in the world, so this is really exciting. I was at home at Ajax I joined when I was seven and I leave with only good memories, but when a club like Newcastle comes for you, it's really hard to say no." Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe added: "We're delighted to welcome Sean to Newcastle United he's a top young prospect who has already tasted Champions League and top-flight Dutch football. We see real potential in Sean and believe he has the characteristics to become a valuable player for us for years to come." In further transfer business, Newcastle are in advanced talks with Freiburg for midfielder Johan Manzambi, with a deal close but a fee still to be agreed. The Bundesliga side value the 20-year-old Swiss international at £51 million (€60 million). Manzambi has scored three goals and provided two assists at the World Cup, and he must also decide his next destination as other clubs maintain interest.