Sometimes, the transfer window works out well for everyone. As one Southampton deal collapsed and The Saints pursued another, all parties came out with smiles on their race.
Not only did Southampton land a high-level goalkeeper who could yet be the difference between survival in the Premier League and an immediate return to the Championship, Feyenoord got to retain a homegrown fans’ favourite.
Southampton secured the ‘huge’ £25 million signing of Aaron Ramsdale on deadline day.
And the speed in which Russell Martin’s side shifted their focus to Arsenal’s number two has Feyenoord director Dennis Te Kloese feeling that The Saints might always have had doubts regarding their pursuit of Justin Bijlow.
Southampton’s Justin Bijlow deal collapsed
The play-off champions had initially opened talks over a deal for Bijlow worth around £10 million, HITC understands.
The Dutchman saw his switch to the South Coast destroyed by an issue discovered during his medical, however. And Southampton wasted no time at all turning to Ramsdale.
Te Kloese, meanwhile, is just happy to have Bijlow back at Feyenoord’s disposal.
“It is quite a coincidence that a club has Aaron Ramsdale ready (with) a five-year contract five minutes after they told us that he would not pass the medical,” a suspicious Te Kloese tells ESPN. “I don’t think you can organise that in five minutes.
“Secretly, I am a bit happy that (Bijlow) is back.”
Born in Rotterdam and raised in Feyenoord’s academy, homegrown hero Bijlow was a key part of Arne Slot’s 2023 Eredivisie-winning team.
He was serenaded by the Feyenoord fans throughout what appeared to be a farewell appearance in August too, Bijlow responding by bidding an emotional goodbye at full-time.
The Dutch international would later write, via his official Instagram account, that he disagreed with the decision Southampton made when pulling the plug.
Aaron Ramsdale joins from Arsenal instead
“Dear Feyenoorders, I was on my way to the Premier League,” Bijlow explained. “After a very special day last Sunday, for which I am very grateful, I was preparing for departure from Feyenoord.
“I didn’t find that easy and it wasn’t my first choice, but it had to be for the sake of my career.
The medical examination has shown that Southampton has a different vision than Feyenoord on how to treat an old injury. I’m fully fit and this doesn’t bother me, but I respect the vision of Southampton medical staff.
“This is why I return to Rotterdam, to my club Feyenoord.”
Bijlow, who had emerged as a target for Slot’s Liverpool before they snapped up Giorgi Mamardashvili, has suffered a worrying number of injuries over the years.
He has missed over 150 games for club and country since September 2018 with knee, wrist and calf issues keeping him on the sidelines.
Ramsdale, in contrast, has only been ruled out of one league game due to injury in his entire career. And that came all the way back in 2020, when the England international was still representing Southampton’s local rivals AFC Bournemouth.
“It was a massive signing for the club, character wise, ability wise,” Martin tells the official Saints website of Ramsdale, who suffered defeat on his debut against Brentford.
“Rambo is going to help us hugely. And a lot of the other guys we’ve brought in as well are going to really help.”
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