Sven Mijnans is officially an AZ player, the Alkmaarders announced on Tuesday through the official channels. The 22-year-old left leg has signed a contract that will keep him in the AFAS stadium until mid-2028. Mijnans underwent his medical examination on Tuesday and will be available immediately on Saturday evening during the away game against FC Volendam. The Alkmaarders reportedly pay several million for his services to Sparta Rotterdam, although director of football affairs Max Huiberts wants that. ESPN not make any statements.
Mijnans has been impressed by AZ’s philosophy for some time. “Offensive football is played and there is always a plan ready for players to develop. I think that suits me perfectly. I want to win as many prizes as possible with AZ and of course make as many minutes as possible. Already this year, but certainly also towards the new season. Being here makes me proud,” said the brand new addition on the website of his new employer.
?? Welcome, Steven! ?? The midfielder comes over from Sparta Rotterdam and has signed a contract until mid-2028!#AZ #SM16 #WelcomeSven
— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) January 31, 2023
Huiberts is especially happy with the versatility that Mijnans brings to Alkmaar. “It is very nice that Sven can play in different positions. It is clear that he is a very strong player and you need that insight if you often play in small spaces. We play most matches in the opponent’s half. you need players with intelligence, players who are creative. I think he has all those qualities.”
Last week it was announced that Feyenoord was also following Mijnans. However, the team from Rotterdam never became concrete, so that AZ had free rein. In Alkmaar, the two-time youth international of the Dutch Juniors will compete for his favorite position with Dani de Wit and Djordje Mihailovic, who both also prefer to play on 10. However, Mijnans can also play as a winger and at 8, so that the chance of playing time at AZ is also considerably greater than if he had left for Feyenoord.
Mijnans is currently in his third season at the highest level in the Netherlands and, remarkably enough, was only picked up by Sparta at the age of eighteen among the amateurs of VV Spijkenisse. Before that he had played a season at ADO Den Haag in the youth academy. In total, Mijnans played 86 times for Sparta, in which he scored 8 goals and 12 assists. In Spangen, Mijnans was still stuck until mid-2024, so the Lords of the castle left a nice amount of money on his departure.
AZ, which is currently second in the Eredivisie, can look back on an excellent transfer period. Mihailovic arrived in Alkmaar at the beginning of this month after the club already paid six million euros to the Canadian Montréal last summer. In addition, goalkeeper Mathew Ryan was taken over from FC Copenhagen for only 500,000 euros. Mijnans completes the incoming trio. On the other hand, three have left: Hakon Evjen was sold to Brøndby IF for 1.6 million euros, while Peter Vindahl Jensen (1. FC Nürnberg) and Peer Koopmeiners (Excelsior Rotterdam) have left the club on a rental basis.