Ten Hag defends FC Twente’s refusal of million‑pound bids

Erik ten Hag, technical director of FC Twente, said the club acted responsibly by rejecting multi‑million offers for Sondre Ørjasæter and Ruud Nijstad during the transfer window, stressing that the move fits the club’s sporting ambitions.

Financial rationale behind the refusals

Ten Hag explained that the offers for both players were in the millions and that turning them down aligns with a prudent financial strategy. He added that the club wants to retain players who can generate economic value for the future.

"We have discussed and brainstormed a lot about: what we want to achieve," Ten Hag told the podcast De Ballen Verstand. "We want a good eleven," he continued, underlining the priority of squad quality over immediate cash.

Strategic vision and past successes

The former Ajax and Manchester United coach said the two players were not sold to realise the Tukkers’ ambitions, insisting the club believes in developing talent. "You assess whether you can make a player even better or have a plan that embraces him so he develops," he said, adding that the club believes in this wholeheartedly.

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He highlighted that FC Twente already has a squad with diverse players who represent financial value and attract interest from other clubs. "Entrepreneurship is taking risks and I don’t particularly like taking risks, but we must do responsible things," Ten Hag remarked.

Ten Hag also referenced a recent 3‑2 victory over PSV, saying the club wants to keep the region happy with such performances. He noted that the decision was not made by him alone or by general director Dominique Scholten, but is broadly supported within the organisation.

Looking back, Ten Hag recalled previous periods when the club followed a similar path with players such as Karim el Ahmadi, Luuk de Jong, Cheick Tioté and Orlando Engelaar. All were developed and later sold for substantial sums, enabling the club to attract better talent and strengthen its youth academy, producing prospects like Elia.

He concluded that FC Twente must continue creating its own value by building a winning team, filling the Grolsch Veste, and securing players who combine sporting quality with economic potential.