Sunderland transfer news has turned sour after NEC Nijmegen accused the Premier League club of breaching a verbal agreement over defender Jenson Seelt. The Eredivisie side, who sold goalkeeper Robin Roefs to Sunderland for a record €10.5m earlier this summer, claim they were promised Seelt on loan as part of the arrangement.
Instead, Seelt joined Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg on deadline day, leaving NEC furious. Speaking to ESPN NL via Algemeen Dagblad, general manager Wilco van Schaik said Sunderland’s late U-turn showed the “ugly side of football” and left technical director Carlos Aalbers “angry and disappointed.”
The fallout highlights growing tension between the clubs just weeks after striking what was supposed to be a long-term partnership. With Sunderland juggling injuries and late signings, their last-minute call has sparked a cross-border row.
Why NEC Feel Betrayed
According to Van Schaik, Sunderland verbally agreed to loan Seelt after completing the Roefs deal on 1 August. NEC waited patiently for weeks, only to be told days before the deadline that Seelt would not be allowed to leave due to an injury crisis.
By Friday, Sunderland reportedly informed NEC they would buy two new defenders, only for Seelt to then appear in Wolfsburg colours on deadline day.
“That’s not how you should do business. This is the ugly side of football. I’ve never seen Carlos so angry. He texted Sunderland this morning saying he regretted selling Roefs to them.” — Wilco van Schaik, NEC Nijmegen GM
Sunderland’s Position
The Black Cats have not publicly responded, but insiders suggest the decision was down to timing. Manager Régis Le Bris wanted Seelt available during an injury-hit August, before eventually sanctioning a late move abroad once reinforcements were lined up.
Seelt, 22, made three appearances in August and will now test himself in Germany, joining Wolfsburg on a season-long loan.
Jenson Seelt 2024/25 Stats
| Stat (2024/25) | Jenson Seelt |
|---|---|
| Appearances (Sunderland) | 3 |
| Minutes Played | 270 |
| Tackles Won | 67% |
| Aerial Duels Won | 71% |
source: sofascore match data – 2 September 2025
Although only used sparingly, Seelt’s physicality and aerial strength made him a valuable depth option in Sunderland’s backline.
Analyst Verdict — John William
From NEC’s perspective, Sunderland’s handling of the situation has damaged trust. Selling a record player and expecting a replacement on loan only to be left empty-handed is a reputational blow in the Dutch market.
For Sunderland, the call was pragmatic. With defensive injuries piling up, Le Bris had little room to weaken his squad. Sending Seelt to Wolfsburg late on suggests commercial opportunity and player development outweighed NEC’s frustrations. The truth lies in the grey zone between verbal assurances and contractual guarantees.
Key Insights
- NEC claim Sunderland broke verbal agreement to loan Seelt.
- Club had already sold goalkeeper Roefs to Sunderland for €10.5m.
- Defender instead joined Wolfsburg on deadline day.
- NEC GM Van Schaik: “Not how you do business.”
- Sunderland yet to comment publicly.
What’s Next for Sunderland and NEC?
Seelt will now compete in the Bundesliga, a significant step for his development. If he impresses, Sunderland could see his value rise, softening the fallout.
For NEC, the frustration is raw. Van Schaik admitted the incident left him regretting the Roefs deal. Whether this damages future business between the two clubs remains to be seen, but the public nature of the fallout will not be forgotten.
Did Sunderland make the right call keeping Seelt until late — or did they burn bridges unnecessarily with NEC Nijmegen?
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