A growing list of young football talents from North Holland have secured transfers to prominent foreign clubs early in their professional careers.
This mirrors the recent move of midfielder Sean Steur from Ajax to Newcastle United.
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Steur, who made fewer than 30 first-team appearances for Ajax, followed a path similar to his brother Roy, who signed with Bayer Leverkusen at age 16.
Other local prospects have made significant international moves despite limited domestic experience, according to a report by NH Nieuws on July 9, 2026.
Notable Early Moves
Winger Jayden Addai joined Italian side Como from AZ Alkmaar last year at age 19 for an estimated 14 million euros.
Addai had only played 25 league matches for AZ before his departure.
He is currently rehabilitating from a severe Achilles tendon injury sustained in February after making 12 appearances for Como.
Defensive mainstay Micky van de Ven moved from FC Volendam to VfL Wolfsburg in the summer of 2021 for approximately 3.5 million euros at age 20, having never played in the Eredivisie.
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His rapid development in the Bundesliga led to a 40 million euro transfer to Tottenham Hotspur in 2023, where he has since become a key player and an international for the Dutch national team.
Other notable youth academy products, such as Justin Kluivert and Donyell Malen, also chose international routes early on.
Kluivert left Ajax for AS Roma following his breakthrough 2017/18 season, later playing for RB Leipzig, OGC Nice, Valencia, and Bournemouth.
Malen moved to Arsenal at age 16 before finding success at PSV, Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa, and AS Roma.
In contrast, midfielder Ouasim Bouy signed with Juventus before registering a single first-team minute for Ajax.
Bouy endured multiple loan spells at clubs including Brescia, Panathinaikos, and PEC Zwolle before retiring in Qatar at age 29 in 2022.
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This highlights the varied outcomes for young Dutch exports like Mink Peeters, Javairo Dilrosun, Millen Baars, and Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
