Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman tells star player his international career is over after Saudi Pro League transfer

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has told one star player his international career is over after moving to Saudi Arabia.

After unexpectedly reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2024, the Netherlands are preparing to begin their UEFA Nations League campaign.

Ronald Koeman's side will take on Bosnia & Herzegovina in Eindhoven on Saturday before facing Germany in Amsterdam on Tuesday.

Koeman has selected many of the players who went to Germany in the summer, but one star player will not be involved.

Attacker Steven Bergwijn has not been included in the squad, with Koeman citing his move to Saudi Arabia as the reason why.

On Monday Ajax confirmed the departure of 26-year-old attacker Bergwijn to Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad, with the Dutch giants receiving a fee of around €21 million (£17.6m).

During a press conference on Tuesday (September 3), Koeman brutally told reporters that Bergwijn's international career is over after moving to Saudi Arabia.

"Steven Bergwijn goes to Saudi Arabia at age 26. It's clear that this has nothing to do with sportive ambition," Koeman said during a press conference on Tuesday.

Steven Bergwijn has left Ajax for Al Ittihad. [Getty]

"His book with the Dutch National Team is closed. He probably knows what I would have said this."

Bergwijn came up through the youth ranks and Ajax and PSV Eindhoven before beginning his professional career with the latter.

In January 2020 the winger completed a £27 million move to Tottenham Hotspur, but he failed to live up to expectations and two years later joined Ajax in a £26.4m deal.

Bergwijn scored 29 goals and provided 12 assists in 80 games in the Dutch capital before deciding to join Al Ittihad.

In Jeddah the 26-year-old will link up with the likes of Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Moussa Diaby and Fabinho.

Koeman's decision sends an ominous message to English striker Ivan Toney, who has just completed a move to Al Ahli and has been omitted from Lee Carsley's England squad,