Ajax saw both Brian Brobbey and Bertrand Traoré leave them for Sunderland on deadline day of the summer window.
On Thursday, [Ajax technical director Alex Kroes said](https://sportwitness.co.uk/barely-a-topic-technical-director-admits-sunderland-double-deal-wasnt-expected/) the Black Cats didn’t show up for the deal until the final day of the window.
Sunderland agreed to pay €20m plus €5m bonuses for Brobbey, who ended his second spell at Ajax.
[De Telegraaf](https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/voetbal/brian-brobbey-over-keuze-voor-sunderland-premier-league-dwingt-me-completer-te-worden/88210906.html) have had a chat with the striker, focusing on his move to the Stadium of Light.
The Netherlands international graduated from the Eredivisie side’s youth system and left them as a free agent to join RB Leipzig in 2021. He returned to Amsterdam initially on loan in January 2022, before Ajax made his stay permanent later that year.
Brobbey admits it wasn’t easy for him to leave Ajax, but he wanted to take the next step in his career.
_“It wasn’t an easy decision, because Ajax is my home. It’s where I grew up, where I learned everything, and where I’ve experienced so many special moments both on and off the pitch,”_ he said.
_“There comes a time in every career when you feel you have to turn the page, and for me, that moment has arrived. My ambition is to continue to grow in this new chapter. I’m leaving with a heavy heart, but with deep gratitude for everyone at the club.”_
The Premier League newcomers were able to convince the 23-year-old with their project. This, coupled with an opportunity to grow in England’s top division tempted him to pick Régis Le Bris’ side, with Ajax very much putting him on the exit list this summer.
_“Sunderland have a clear vision and great ambition. Together we will take on this project,”_ Brobbey explained.
_“The Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world, and it demands a lot from the players tactically, physically, and mentally. As a striker, I face top defenders every week, and that forces me to improve, develop, and become more complete.”_
_“That’s exactly what I was looking for at this stage of my career. This challenge excites me. I want to grow and excel in this football crazy city.”_
Ronald Koeman has left Brobbey out of the squad for the ongoing international break, and he’s considered someone close to the selection at this stage.
The Dutchman explained the goals he intends to achieve with the English club, which in return could help him regain his place in the national squad.
_“I’m at a stage where I’m fully committed to improving. I think my physical strength, explosiveness, and ability to play in space can be important weapons in England,”_ he added.
_“The bar has been raised, and that’s what motivates me now, because I want to prove I’m an asset to the club that invested in me._
_“Out of respect for the club, my focus now is on repaying the trust with goals and performances. If I do my job well and deliver on the pitch, then the Dutch national team is a natural consequence.”_