NEC's 22-year-old Japanese midfielder, Kodai Sano, is reportedly being tracked by Borussia Dortmund, as well as several other major clubs in England and Germany. Manchester United, RB Leipzig, and Chelsea are also following the player. Sano has two caps for Japan, joined NEC in August 2023, and is contracted until 2028. The player has previously attracted interest, with NEC having turned down an approach from Ajax in January. It was reported that in February 2026, NEC rejected offers from Ajax, including one valued at €12.5 million plus add-ons, and also turned down a €20 million bid from Nottingham Forest. During that period, NEC's asking price was cited as a minimum of €20 million. The player's current market value is €12.00m, according to Transfermarkt.