NEC eyes €20m windfall as Kodai Sano's Hoffenheim move looms

NEC Nijmegen faces a looming midfield void as 22‑year‑old Japanese midfielder Kodai Sano is set to depart for TSG Hoffenheim, with the Dutch side eyeing a transfer fee close to €20 million that could shatter its previous record and reshape its summer strategy.

De reported Wednesday night that TSG Hoffenheim has moved from interest to concrete pursuit of Sano, while De Gelderlander added the Japanese midfielder is likely to complete a move within the week.

NEC, currently third in the Eredivisie, hopes to secure an amount towards €20 million, a sum that would eclipse the club’s previous transfer record.

A year ago the Gelderse side added just over €10 million from the sale of goalkeeper Robin Roefs to Sunderland, setting the benchmark that the Sano deal aims to surpass.

For context, Hoffenheim paid €12 million last month for FC Twente defender Mats Rots, a fee that could rise to €16 million with performance bonuses.

Sano has amassed 98 appearances for NEC over three seasons at the Goffertstadion, establishing himself as a key figure in the midfield.

He missed the first training match of the pre‑season on Wednesday evening after falling ill, with head coach Dick Schreuder confirming the midfielder’s sudden sickness.

During the previous winter break, Sano was linked with Ajax, and both Feyenoord and PSV were also reported to have shown interest, underscoring the demand for his services.

If the transfer materialises this week, NEC will need to identify a replacement quickly to maintain its league position, while the exact fee and any add‑on clauses remain to be finalised.