PSV technical director Earnest Stewart has explained the patience behind Lutsharel Geertruida’s arrival while also revealing how the club ensured captain Mauro Júnior stayed in Eindhoven despite interest from elsewhere.

The transfer window is now closed in the Netherlands, bringing an end to a summer of significant activity at PSV. After an initially quiet period, the defending champions accelerated their recruitment in August, adding Kodai Sano, Filip Kostić and Lutsharel Geertruida, among others.

PSV had already spent €13 million on Sven Mijnans, who arrived from AZ in early July. But the club's transfer plans gathered momentum later in the window, with Geertruida ultimately becoming one of the most significant additions.

Stewart revealed that PSV had been working on the deal for considerably longer than the timing of the announcement suggested.

“With Mikkel Bro Hansen and Lutsharel Geertruida, we have really been working on this for a long time. Twelve weeks, and the first contacts are still from far back before that. That they eventually end up walking around here with us is nice; it gives a lot of satisfaction. But it required a great deal of patience. When Geertruida came by, I became calm and we were able to work further on the window using our own strength,” Stewart told Voetbal International, as quoted by PSV Inside.

The former Feyenoord defender has initially joined PSV for one season, with the agreement including an option to buy.

Stewart outlined why the Netherlands international was considered the right addition to Peter Bosz's squad.

“First of all it’s for a year, but there is an option to buy. But Lutsharel is a Dutch kid who knows what it’s like to play with the knife between his teeth and with room in his back. In addition, he can help Yarek (Gasiorowski, ed.) and Ryan (Flamingo, ed.) so that they can also take the next step again. This was the most logical thing for us to do, even when we compared it to a player with the same qualities for whom we had to pay a fee. And of course we also have Jerdy,” Stewart continued.

Geertruida's potential move generated considerable attention in Rotterdam once PSV's interest became public. Stewart acknowledged the surrounding noise but said the defender remained focused on his career.

“When it became known that we were working with Geertruida, the world in Rotterdam started to move. What happens then to a boy like that, his family and his environment? Does that affect his decision? Geertruida was fortunately very resolute in that regard. He makes the choice for his career with his head,” Stewart said.

While PSV allowed key players such as Ismael Saibari and Joey Veerman to leave during the summer, the club retained several important figures, including Sergiño Dest, Ivan Perišić and captain Mauro Júnior.

Stewart admitted there had been concern that Mauro could also depart. The Brazilian had a release clause in his contract, meaning PSV could not simply block a move if the required amount was met.

“No, not that. In that respect it was calm. We were, however, in the beginning afraid that Mauro would leave. He of course had a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave for a certain amount,” Stewart said, as quoted by PSV Inside.

Fenerbahçe were among the clubs to show interest, but Mauro ultimately remained in Eindhoven. Stewart stressed the importance of keeping a player he considers integral to PSV.

“But Mauro is PSV; he has to just play for PSV. We were very happy back then that he extended his contract and stayed, and now he would still leave? That can’t be right, so we made sure he would stay,” Stewart concluded.

The transfer window may now be closed, but PSV's summer business has left Bosz with a reshaped squad, while Stewart's comments underline the planning, patience and negotiations that went into several of the club's most important decisions.