Why now is the right time for Steven Bergwijn to leave Tottenham?

Amid a busy summer of arrivals for Antonio Conte and Tottenham, the first of several expected departures occurred as Steven Bergwijn leaves the club.

Now confirmed by Tottenham, Bergwijn has joined Ajax in a deal worth a reported €30 million.

In truth, this is a win for all parties involved, as Tottenham will make a small profit on the €27 million fee paid to PSV Eindhoven back in January 2020, whilst Ajax inherit what still looks like a still promising player.

The Dutchman has shown flashes of brilliance at Tottenham, notably with his debut goal against Manchester City and his heroic last-ditch brace at Leicester. However, he has struggled for any real consistency during his time in London.

Just seven goals and six assists in 60 games leaves Bergwijn with a relatively underwhelming Premier League return, as the forward’s finishing and end product often left a lot to be desired.

With Kane, Son, Kulusevski, Moura, and now Richarlison ahead of him in the Tottenham pecking order, the Dutchman was surplus to requirements at N17. However, he could certainly prove a shrewd pickup for Ajax.

Good move for Tottenham, Ajax, and Stevie

Whilst being painful inconsistent at Spurs, Bergwijn has shone on the national stage, scoring five times in his last seven appearances for the Netherlands dating back to mid-November.

These performances have likely facilitated his return to the Eredivisie, constantly reminding his compatriots of the quality he can offer any side.

Before joining Ajax, both Manchester United and Everton supposedly held an interest in the winger. However, he was always set on a return to his homeland.

Still just 24, Bergwijn is arguably yet to reach his peak. Although his finishing is lacklustre, this can be improved over time, as he may potentially thrive in a league less physically demanding than the English top flight.

Moreover, with Ajax already losing Sebastian Haller to Borussia Dortmund and potentially facing a battle to keep Anthony amid interest for Man United, adding a player with Bergwijn’s ability is a huge plus. Stevie can play across the frontline and is comfortable starting or rotating into any forward position when required, giving Ajax a versatile attacker.

Ultimately, this versatility should see Bergwijn start regularly for Ajax, fulfilling his understandable need for minutes as he prepares for a World Cup with the Netherlands later year.

And for Spurs, considering the €30 million fee received for Bergwijn, Conte and Paratici have essentially replaced him with Richarlison for a net spend of €30 million, which in truth looks like a solid upgrade from Tottenham’s perspective.

Whilst there’s every chance he could still become a top player at Ajax, Conte doesn’t fancy the Dutchman, and in truth, this is all that’s needed to end his time at Spurs as we undergo a Conte-driven squad overhaul.

Bergwijn’s departure hopefully marks the first of several necessary outgoings for Spurs this summer. It is no secret that Conte wants N’dombele, Lo Celso, and Winks to follow in the winger’s footsteps to free up potentially vital funds as he rebuilds the side. Added to the sale of Cameron Carter-Vickers back on the first day of the transfer window, Spurs have brought in over €41.3m ($42.1m) with player sales, per transfermarkt.com.

Admittedly, in years to come, we may look back at Bergwijn’s stint in North London as the right player at the wrong time as he may yet go on to have a stellar career, but for now, his departure to Ajax is undoubtedly the best for player and two clubs.