Yahoo Sport 
What happened to Mike Eerdhuijzen after ‘mental blow’ of missing out on Birmingham City transfer
Birmingham City fans thought they were getting a new Dutch Mike for a few days in July. The signing of Mike Eerdhuijzen, a 24-year-old left-sided centre-back from Sparta Rotterdam, was on the verge of completion.
Eerdhuijzen was persuaded to swap the Eredivisie for the third tier of English football by Blues’ transfer chiefs and travelled over to finalise a move. But the deal broke down and was unable to be resurrected, despite Eerdhuijzen’s hopes that it would be.
Blues did eventually sign three Netherlands-based players in the form of Emil Hansson, Willum Willumsson and Alfons Sampsted. Players in the Eredivisie scored well in the data Blues analysed their transfer targets against and they were attainable financially.
READ MORE: Lower league gems Birmingham City could sign on their crusade to the Championship
READ MORE: Nick Smith explains Knighthead’s plan for St Andrew’s Main Stand
But that isn’t any consolation to Eerdhuijzen who reportedly sought the help of a psychologist to help him process his failed transfer.
READ: Lower league gems Birmingham City could sign on crusade to the Championship
READ: Nick Smith explains Knighthead’s plan for St Andrew’s Main Stand
'I've been brooding for a good month and had a mental blow,” Eerdhuijzen told VI in August. “I want to play football freely, that's the most important thing.
“I believed in Birmingham's project. In terms of finances and club size, it was a step I was looking forward to and when it falls through, you're disappointed for a moment. But when you realise where you come from, it's not so bad after all.”
Eerdhuijzen was targeted by FC Twente after his Blues transfer fell through and Sparta seemed willing to sell him to a divisional rival. It was Eerdhuijzen who decided against a transfer after the disappointment of missing out on a move to Birmingham.
Shortly before the Eredivisie season started Eerdhuijzen pledged his immediate future to Sparta and started their opening game against Heracles. Eerdhuijzen commented: “It is smart to focus all my attention on Sparta and to look at the next transfer window. I don't want to think anymore.”
Eerdhuijzen has started 11 of Sparta’s 12 games in the Eredivisie this term, missing only one game due to suspension after being sent off against Almere City. Sparta are winless in six games and hovering above the relegation zone.
Once the dust has settled, Eerdhuijzen will no doubt look to complete a move away from Sparta. The reasons why he didn’t become a Blues player will probably never be made public, but those in power at St Andrew's will be interested to see where Eerdhuijzen ends up in the next 12 months.
