Dutch side NEC Nijmegen has claimed that Sunderland broke a verbal agreement to sign defender Jenson Seelt, leading to the player’s surprise move to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg on transfer deadline day.
NEC believed that a deal had been agreed for Seelt to return to the Netherlands, alongside Sunderland’s move for goalkeeper Robin Roefs earlier in the window. However, delays arose due to Sunderland’s injury problems, keeping Seelt at the club longer than expected. Eventually, Sunderland informed NEC that Seelt would not be allowed to leave due to their injury situation, only to later reveal that they were signing two more players. To NEC’s surprise, Seelt was then seen in a Wolfsburg shirt.
Wilco van Schaik, NEC’s general manager, expressed frustration and disappointment at the collapsed deal, stating that the mood at the club has been sour since then. The technical director Carlos Aalbers even texted Sunderland expressing regret over selling Roefs to them.
Despite the turbulence surrounding his transfer, Seelt sealed a season-long loan move to Wolfsburg on deadline day. Sunderland’s sporting director, Kristjaan Speakman, explained that the opportunity for Seelt to play at a top-level club in Germany was too good to pass up, considering the limited playing time he would have had at Sunderland.
Seelt’s departure on loan coincided with Sunderland’s incoming transfer activity, including the signing of Dutch international Lutsharel Geertruida from RB Leipzig. With the new additions limiting Seelt’s chances of first-team football at Sunderland, the loan move to Wolfsburg was seen as a beneficial opportunity for the young defender’s development.
