NEC director denies Ajax bid for Nejašmić
Wilco van Schaik has denied reports of an Ajax bid for Croatian midfielder Darko Nejašmić, stating that no offer has arrived at the club.
Wilco van Schaik has denied reports of an Ajax bid for Croatian midfielder Darko Nejašmić, stating that no offer has arrived at the club.
Wilco van Schaik, NEC's director, has firmly refuted media claims of a purported lucrative Ajax bid for Croatian midfielder Darko Nejašmić. Over the past weekend, news spread that the Amsterdam club was prepared to pay €6.5 million for the 27-year-old, with an additional €3 million in bonuses, but Van Schaik insists that no offer has been received by the club.
The alleged bid was first reported by the profile WFCGroningen, and the story was subsequently picked up by many Dutch media outlets. Voetbal International had already reported that NEC denied receiving an offer, and now the club's top official has weighed in. "That was not true," Van Schaik said, specifically addressing the alleged interest from Ajax.
On the program De Bestuurskamer, the NEC director complained about the vast amount of unverified information circulating during the transfer window. "It's incredible what I read and who gets linked with whom," Van Schaik emphasized, adding that because of such headlines, he constantly has to call people and assure them that the published information is incorrect. He cited Nejašmić's case as an example.
Despite the denial, Nejašmić continues to attract interest from larger Dutch clubs with his performances for NEC. Dutch analysts have been publicly suggesting for weeks that Ajax and PSV should sign the Croatian midfielder, especially after his impressive displays against Olympiacos in the Champions League qualifiers.
Nejašmić is under contract with NEC until the summer of 2027, and coach Dick Schreuder recently confirmed that the club has been in negotiations with him for an extension for some time and does not expect him to leave this summer.
Nejašmić joined NEC in 2025 from Sharjah, a club from the United Arab Emirates, and quickly established himself as one of the team's key players. According to Transfermarkt, his market value is estimated at €4 million, making him one of the most valuable players at the Nijmegen club.
Before moving abroad, he played for Hajduk and Osijek, and for the Croatian U-21 national team, he made eight appearances and scored two goals.
