Former Ajax defender Sven Botman is about to become a Newcastle United player.
The defender is currently on Tyneside to complete a deal, after Lille accepted the Magpies offer of £35million on Friday.
Botman appears set to become the club’s third signing of the summer after Matt Targett and Nick Pope.
It’s a huge deal for Newcastle, who have been trying to sign him ever since the change of ownership. A price couldn’t be agreed in January, but we have finally made a breakthrough this summer, fending off interest from AC Milan.
Botman is set to swap France for England, which will be the third country he’s played professional football in.
He started his career in the Netherlands with Ajax, but never made a senior appearance for the Dutch side. He was sold to Lille in 2020 by Erik ten Hag, but why did the new Manchester United boss decide to get rid?
Ten Hag wasn’t surprised by Botman’s form after leaving Ajax
The centre-back joined Lille for less than £8million, and enjoyed a remarkable debut year in France. Botman was brilliant in Ligue 1, helping his side beat Paris Saint-Germain to the title.
Seven months after leaving, Ten Hag was asked about Botman’s Ajax departure by Voetbal International.
“No, actually not,” he said when asked if he was surprised by Botman’s form in France.
“We already saw the potential at Ajax before we loaned him to Heerenveen.
“We had two very good central defenders at Ajax, he was just behind them. Then you have to make choices and he has taken a good step. It’s nice to see how he holds his own, but that also says something about our central defenders.”
Botman wanted to play – his decision was justified
It wasn’t that Ten Hag didn’t rate Botman – he simply had better, more experienced options. So many talented players come through the Ajax academy that some will slip through the net, but Ten Hag was very aware of Botman’s ‘potential’.
The defender also spoke about his exit, and admitted that he left because he saw more opportunity for minutes at Lille.
“I could have stayed at Ajax, but there I was second or third choice as central defender,” Botman said.
“That’s no shame at my age, but I saw more chances at Lille. And that decision has worked out very well.”
Botman clearly just wanted to be playing first-team football. He could easily have bided his time at Ajax and waited for a chance, but instead he took the initiative himself and packed his bags for France.
It’s a decision that has paid off massively, and is now taking him to Newcastle. He will want to play a lot of football at St James’ Park, and will expect to be one of Eddie Howe’s first choice centre-backs. Given the investment, that seems incredibly likely.
He joins Newcastle at an incredibly exciting time. The club is going in the right direction, and will continue to grow in the coming months and years.
After missing out on a move in January, Botman is finally set to become part of the Magpies’ journey.
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