NEC Nijmegen sporting director Carlos Aalbers has explained why the club blocked Kodai Sano’s proposed move to Nottingham Forest in January, revealing he held an hour-long conversation with the midfielder before rejecting multiple late offers.
Forest made a concerted deadline-day push to sign the 22-year-old, but NEC ultimately refused to sell despite strong interest from the Premier League and Eredivisie rivals.
Forest bid rejected despite late pressure
Nottingham Forest attempted to sign Sano late in the winter window, with ESPN NL reporting that NEC turned down a €20m offer on deadline day. The decision sparked surprise in the Netherlands and frustration from the player himself, who later admitted his disappointment and did not rule out a summer move.
Dutch media described NEC’s stance as risky, particularly given the size of the offer, but noted the club acted with the backing of investor Marcel Boekhoorn.
Sano responded on the pitch at the weekend, delivering a goal and an assist in NEC’s 3–1 win over AZ Alkmaar, further underlining his importance to the team.
Multiple clubs circling as window closed
According to Voetbal International, Crystal Palace were monitoring Sano during the AZ match, while Nottingham Forest made contact on Sunday. Ajax were also preparing a move, hoping to capitalise on the late-window uncertainty.
Aalbers admitted the sudden surge of interest created a chaotic situation for both the club and the player.
“In a short period of time, a lot suddenly came our way and that of Kodai. Many people tried to influence him with all those offers. It was hectic, so it was important to stay calm,” — Carlos Aalbers
‘We spoke for an hour’ before decision
Forest returned on Monday with their €20m proposal, but Aalbers insisted NEC’s position did not change, regardless of the financial temptation.
The director revealed he spoke at length with Sano before formally rejecting the bids. “Kodai came to training on Sunday, and afterward, I spoke with him for an hour. Afterward, I explained the situation to his management and rejected the offers.”
Aalbers stressed that the decision was not taken lightly and was driven by sporting considerations rather than money.
“We want to make this a unique season, and we think the chance of achieving that is greater with Kodai than without him,” — Carlos Aalbers
Impact on squad a key factor
The NEC director explained that losing a key player so late in the window could have destabilised the squad, regardless of the fee involved.
He also confirmed that Forest were informed clearly and respectfully that the club would not alter its stance.
Lessons learned from late-window storm
Aalbers acknowledged the intense media attention surrounding Sano at the end of the window and admitted the situation served as a learning experience for the club.
“When you reach this level in terms of transfers, the game is played differently. That was a lesson for us,” — Carlos Aalbers
Key Insights
- Nottingham Forest had a €20m bid rejected for Kodai Sano
- NEC Nijmegen prioritised sporting stability over a late sale
- Aalbers held an hour-long meeting with the player
- Crystal Palace and Ajax also showed interest
- Sano remains open to a summer move
What’s Next
Sano is expected to remain a central figure for NEC for the rest of the season as the club chase what Aalbers described as a “unique” campaign. With multiple clubs already tracking him, renewed interest is likely in the summer window, when NEC may be more open to negotiations.
Did NEC make the right call by blocking Sano’s move to Forest, or should they have cashed in while the offer was on the table?
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