Steven Berghuis remains sidelined at Ajax as an ongoing fitness absence stretches past a month, raising questions about whether the 34-year-old winger will make his return to the Amsterdam squad or pursue a long-held career ambition in the United States, Soccernews.nl reported.
Fitness Absence and Squad Impact in Amsterdam
The 46-voudig Oranje-international has not featured for Ajax since September 19, 2026, when the club announced he was not fit enough to be included in the matchday squad for the home fixture against Excelsior. Prior to that setback, the left-footed attacker had frequently featured as a starter on the right wing, providing experience that manager Míchel Sánchez regularly relied upon. What was initially treated as a short-term lack of fitness has now kept the veteran out of the rotation for more than a month. In his absence, Sánchez has turned to Davy Klaassen as a makeshift option on the right flank, according to Voetbal.headliner.nl reporting.
Back in the starting eleven: Steven Berghuis! ✔️ https://t.co/bdMwqJJ0aa pic.twitter.com/XG1yLUCRjW
Major League Soccer Ambitions and Transfer Scenarios
While Berghuis has not actively pushed for a departure, his agent, Guido Albers, previously acknowledged on ESPN’s Goedemorgen Eredivisie that one specific overseas destination would immediately tempt the player. “He has a thing for America,” Albers said. “So if an opportunity ever arises to play in Major League Soccer, he will grab it with both hands.” Previous interest from Seattle Sounders FC and New York City FC failed to materialize into a concrete bid, but the landscape is shifting as his contract timeline winds down.
Contract Expiry and Potential American Suitors
Berghuis is tied to Ajax until the summer of 2027, but his current deal enters its final six months this January, granting him the freedom to negotiate with foreign clubs. According to FootballTransfers, Houston Dynamo FC and Los Angeles FC emerge as the best tactical fits for the former Feyenoord player within MLS, offering favorable prospects for playing time and a smooth adjustment to league formations. During the summer of 2026, Berghuis appeared as an analyst for NOS during the World Cup, where he batted away questions about retirement by stating his intention to keep playing for as long as possible.
