Netherlands

Liverpool and Feyenoord have agreed a compensation package that will allow Arne Slot to become Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Anfield. The 45-year-old Dutchman is now free to join Liverpool in the summer after the conclusion to Feyenoord’s Eredivisie campaign. The Athletic reported earlier this week that Liverpool had an opening offer of €9million (£7.7m, $9.6m) rejected by Feyenoord but the two parties have now reached an agreement. The figures around the agreement are yet to be confirmed with Dutch sources telling The Athletic that the agreed fee is between €13m and €15m...

Slot says it is 'clear' he wants to be Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool successor - Kuyt explains why the Feyenoord manager has what it takes

Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot says it is “clear” he wants to take over at Liverpool and is “confident” the two sides can reach an agreement to facilitate such a move. The Athletic reported earlier this week that Liverpool had an opening offer of €9million (£7.7m, $9.6m) rejected by Feyenoord for Slot after making him their preferred candidate to replace the departing Jurgen Klopp. Liverpool’s interest in Slot only became apparent earlier this week, as they placed emphasis on discretion and showing respect to Feyenoord ahead of last Sunday’s Dutch Cup final, a match...

Alex Kroes has been allowed to return to Ajax in an altered role of technical director just over three weeks after his suspension for suspected insider trading. Kroes, 49, formally began work as Ajax CEO in March, but was suspended just 19 days into his tenure after it was found that he “likely engaged in insider trading” prior to his initial appointment in August 2023 by buying 17,000 shares in the club. Insider trading — the buying or selling of stocks based on privileged information — is a criminal offence. Kroes subsequently submitted all required information to the Netherlands’...

Our writers ponder the names for eight of Europe's leading nations who might benefit from the re-expanded squads at Euro 2024

Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber says his return to playing after an anterior cruciate ligament injury “feels amazing”. Timber played 45 minutes for Arsenal Under-21s on Monday evening as they drew 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League 2. The 22-year-old started at left-back and opened the scoring for Arsenal, curling a shot with his right foot into the top corner eight minutes into the game. It was Timber’s first competitive action since suffering the ACL injury in his right knee just 50 minutes into the first game of the Premier League season. “I still don’t really know how...

Over four seasons, Van de Beek's minutes for United have totalled 2,151. For comparison, Bruno Fernandes has played 3,745 this season alone

Tete was a key player as Fulham finished 10th last season but has since been frustrated by injuries and the arrival of Timothy Castagne

If the Brighton defender maintains his trajectory, interest in his fortunes will soon extend much further afield than his home town

A Dutch court has ordered the former agents of Inter Milan’s Stefan de Vrij to pay the defender more than €5million (£4.2m, $5.4m) in compensation after its unsuccessful appeal against a previous ruling regarding the commission it earned during his 2018 move to the Serie A club. The Amsterdam Court of Appeal ruled that sports agency SEG did indeed mediate for both Inter and De Vrij, and should have been transparent about the mutual agreements. SEG was obligated to disclose its own financial stake in the agreement between De Vrij and Inter, and the court found that it breached this...

Girona defender Daley Blind says he used to “torture” himself over his heart condition but he no longer thinks about it during matches. In December 2019, the Netherlands international was diagnosed with myocarditis — an inflammation of the heart muscle — after suffering from dizziness during Ajax’s Champions League match against Valencia that month. He was fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a device which monitors and corrects heart rhythm. Eight months later, the former Manchester United player collapsed during a pre-season friendly with Ajax in...

Ajax’s disappointing campaign hit a new low after they were beaten 6-0 away at rivals Feyenoord on Sunday — their biggest defeat in 97 years. The hosts stormed into a 3-0 lead in the first half thanks to goals from Igor Paixao, Yankuba Minteh, who is on loan from Newcastle United, and David Hancko. Minteh and Paixao also scored in the second half as did Netherlands international Quinten Timber to complete the demolition at De Kuip. The defeat is Ajax’s eighth of the season, leaving the Dutch club in sixth place and seven points off a European qualification position.

Ajax have suspended club CEO Alex Kroes after he “likely engaged in insider trading” prior to his appointment in August 2023. The Dutch club released a statement on Tuesday to state that Kroes has been suspended from his role “with immediate effect and (the club) intends to terminate the collaboration permanently”. Ajax said the decision followed external legal advice after learning that the 49-year-old had purchased over 17,000 shares in the club prior to his appointment on August 2, 2023. Insider trading — the buying or selling of stocks based on privileged...

Mikel Arteta says Jurrien Timber has “a good chance” of playing again for Arsenal this season. The Netherlands international, 22, has been sidelined since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury 50 minutes into his Premier League debut for the club back in August. He was pictured training on the grass during Arsenal’s winter break camp in Dubai with Arteta hinting at game time with the Under-21s side in the coming weeks to get him fully up to speed. “He’s doing very well. He’s back training,” Arteta said ahead of Wednesday night’s visit of Luton...

The Dutchman had an exceptional start to life at Anfield last season but has struggled recently