Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest Join Race for Eredivisie Starlet
Palace and Forest Join Race for Talented Midfielder
Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are set to do battle over the services of talented NEC Nijmegen midfielder Kodai Sano today, with the latter having gone as far as to submit an official bid for the 22-year-old Japan international, according to Sky Sports Germany.
It is understood that the bid from Palace is expected to be rejected as it is off the valuation mark set by NEC, but the Eagles are ready to go in again amidst what has turned out to be a very busy end to the transfer window for the South London side.
🇯🇵 Kodai Sano vs Eredivisie Midfielders
— DataMB (@DataMB_) February 1, 2026
◉ Duels won – 1st
◉ Defensive duels won – 1st
◎ Possessions won – 2nd
◎ Offensive duels won – 2nd
◎ Progressive passes – 3rd
◎ Interceptions – 3rd
◎ Pre-assists – 3rd
◎ Crosses to box – 3rd
◎ Fouls suffered – 3rd
👨💼 Top 7 League… pic.twitter.com/OD8wJT1Ewt
Meanwhile, both Forest and Palace are expected to face competition from Dutch giants Ajax, who are plotting to keep Sano within the Eredivisie with a bid of their own, whereas Bundesliga side Wolfsburg are also expressing an interest.
The bid coming from Ajax is believed to be in the ballpark of €15m, which would see the move break the transfer record for internal Eredivisie transfers.
Bidding War Set to Commence
According to Sky Germany, NEC are expecting to reject all the approaches currently available for Sano as they wish to hold out for a fee closer to the region of around €20m instead. The Japanese central midfielder has made 20 Eredivisie starts this term, scoring thrice and assisting four, and has been amongst the standout players in Holland over the course of this season.
🇯🇵🚨 𝐊𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐈 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐎 (𝟐𝟐) is the "Midfield Surprise" Ajax are trying to hijack💎
— The Stat Guy (@The_Stat_Guy_10) February 1, 2026
Ajax have opened late talks to sign him from NEC
Kodai has 5 G/A and 6.4 Duels Won per 90 & covers 12km per game 🔥
𝐓𝐇𝐄 "𝐉𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐘𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐎" 🇯🇵✨
pic.twitter.com/jh3UsCtfU6
This impressive campaign-to-date has seen Sano touted with a host of moves across Europe, including one apiece from Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace with the Eagles sending off a first bid which is highly expected to be turned away, with it also being expected that Palace will return to the race in an effort to sign him.
Nottingham Forest are expected to be a busy club today - as well as chasing Sano, they have sent multiple offers for Celtic and Belgium midfielder Arne Engels and have seen moves for Davide Frattesi and Kevin Gosens rejected by Inter and Atalanta respectively. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are in the process of selling striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta to AC Milan and signing Jorgen Strand Larsen as his replacement.
Alec Hayward 
Oliver Seymour 
