Steven Bergwijn's wish is about to come true with a return to Holland finally set to come to fruition. Cutting a frustrated figure on the Tottenham bench for long periods of last season, talk of the 24-year-old linking up with Ajax never went away after the Dutch giants tried to lure him to Amsterdam in January.
Failing back then with a move for the talented attacker, Ajax now have their man after agreeing on a deal with Tottenham for his services. Bergwijn will undergo his medical today and complete a €32.5million (£27.8m) transfer ahead of such a crucial period for the player with the 2022 World Cup on the horizon.
The Lilywhites will receive €30million (£25.8m) for the 24-year-old and that fee could rise to €32.5million with adds-ons, which in turn would see Spurs recoup the £27million they paid PSV back in January 2020. Considering his lack of regular match action during his time at the club, Spurs have done extremely well to have not lost out on any money for Bergwijn.
READ MORE: Troy Parrott, Kion Etete, Sarr and the 5 Tottenham players hoping for pre-season tour chance
Tottenham had looked at a deal for the Netherlands international for quite some time prior to his move and his debut against Man City in February 2020 could not have gone any better. Handed a starting spot against the reigning Premier League champions, the winger opened the scoring in the 63rd minute after chesting down Lucas Moura's chipped pass before unleashing an unstoppable volley that flew into the bottom corner. It was a mesmerising finish and it sparked pandemonium inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Scoring against Wolves and Manchester United either side of the Premier League pausing for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic, Bergwijn was given a decent run in the side under Jose Mourinho the following campaign but he soon fell out of favour from February onwards and missed out on the squad seven times in the league. A fresh start under Nuno Espirito Santo looked to be what he needed as he started the first three league games of 2021/22 before unfortunately sustaining an ankle injury on international duty in September.
Bergwijn would only start one more league game for Spurs that season, coming in the 2-0 defeat away at Chelsea four days after his incredible stoppage-time heroics at Leicester City. The Dutch international was a rare bright spot on an otherwise dismal day for the Lilywhites at Stamford Bridge, yet he wouldn't start for the team again in the league and instead had to settle for minutes here and there off the bench despite his goalscoring exploits on international duty.
Following 21 substitute appearances for Tottenham in 2021/22, Bergwijn made his intentions clear on international duty at the start of June when he stated that he wanted to depart Tottenham. After that it was always going to be a case of agreeing on a fee, with Ajax looking to get the best deal possible while Spurs looked to recoup the £27million they shelled out 30 months earlier.
In the end Tottenham prevailed, with Ajax set to sign their long-term target in a deal worth £27.8million including add-ons. That fee could have quite easily fallen below Tottenham's valuation of the player, especially as his bit-part role under Antonio Conte and his previous managers meant he was never given a proper chance to show his true potential on a consistent basis.
The deal Spurs have struck with Ajax does highlight the power of having good negotiators at the club, however, with Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici bringing in good money for the player that can now be put towards other possible incomings. A player with bags of talent and all the attributes to have a very successful career in the game, he will now get the regular first-team football he desperately craves at Ajax after a frustrating 18 months.
Tottenham fans may look back and think what could have been when it comes to Bergwijn but they will always have his Man City and Leicester City heroics to remember him by.
READ NEXT:
- Tottenham announce two more summer signings after Richarlison deal confirmed
- Tottenham news and transfers LIVE: All the latest updates and rumours from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Full Tottenham Premier League fixture list for 2022/23
- Antonio Conte set to sign renowned coach Gianni Vio to help Tottenham in one much-needed area
Richarlison insight as expert reveals strengths and weaknesses of new Tottenham signing
