Dual-nationality defender Steven van der Sloot of ADO Den Haag is being linked with a switch to German 2. Bundesliga side SC Paderborn, with the Dutch-Cameroon right-back reportedly on the radar as a potential low-cost defensive reinforcement.
The 23-year-old, born in Limbe and listed with both Netherlands and Cameroon nationality, is currently valued at €650,000, according to Transfermarkt, and plays his club football in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie for ADO Den Haag, where he wears the No 2 shirt. The rumoured move to Paderborn has been logged with an unspecified probability (“?”), underlining that talks, if any, remain at an early and speculative stage.
Van der Sloot’s contractual situation at ADO Den Haag is unclear, with no formal expiry date registered. That uncertainty has fuelled suggestions he could become a free agent if no agreement is found with the Dutch club, potentially opening the door for Paderborn to move for him on a free transfer rather than paying a fee close to his current market valuation.
A right-footed specialist at right-back, Van der Sloot is listed at 1.75m tall and has been operating primarily as a defensive full-back in the Dutch second tier. He represents ADO Den Haag at domestic level and, while not yet a senior international, his dual eligibility for the Netherlands and Cameroon adds long-term appeal for suitors monitoring his development.
Recent performances in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie have helped maintain his €650k valuation, though detailed public statistics on goals and assists remain limited. In his latest recorded league outing for ADO Den Haag in the Dutch second tier, Van der Sloot featured at right-back in a match against second-tier opposition, contributing over 90 minutes in a game that ended in a tight scoreline, underlining his role as a regular in the defensive unit this season. The appearance continued a run of starts that has put him on scouting lists beyond the Netherlands.
Van der Sloot joined ADO Den Haag after developing his trade in Dutch football and has continued to build his reputation in the country’s second division. The Keuken Kampioen Divisie has often acted as a springboard into Germany’s 2. Bundesliga, a pathway that Paderborn may be looking to replicate with the defender.
Paderborn, who compete in a highly competitive 2. Bundesliga environment, are thought to be assessing cost-effective options to refresh their back line. With Van der Sloot’s contract status not clearly defined and no confirmed expiry date in the public domain, the possibility of a free-agent situation later down the line remains part of the speculation, alongside a more traditional transfer based on his market valuation.
No official bid or agreement has been confirmed by either club, and there are no indications yet of personal terms or contract length being discussed. For now, the link remains at rumour level, with the probability of a deal still marked as unclear.
If the move to SC Paderborn does materialise, it would offer Van der Sloot a step into German football at 23, a stage that could significantly shape his career trajectory, enhance his reputation outside the Netherlands and potentially increase his profile for future international consideration with either the Netherlands or Cameroon.
