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Opinion

Beginning of Siem de Jong renaissance in Holland?

6 years ago
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After an £8m move to Newcastle in 2014, fair to say that you could only describe the Siem de Jong transfer as disastrous.

In three years on the payroll the Dutch midfielder only started four Premier League matches scoring one goal.

If he wasn’t injured then the former Ajax captain looked totally off the pace needed in the English game.

Returning to Ajax for £1.8m in August (see below), it suited both the player and NUFC, despite Siem de Jong having said in early summer he hoped to convince Rafa Benitez he could handle the Premier League.

He didn’t.

Moving back permanently to the weaker Dutch league, things didn’t exactly go great for the returning Ajax star.

Siem de Jong not even getting off the bench in the Eredivisie in the whole of September, restricted to one first team appearance in the domestic cup when he scored in a 5-1 win.

October saw four substitute appearances in the league, with another two goals, plus another cup start that produced two more goals. He also started one game for the Young Ajax team who play in the Dutch second tier, scoring in that game as well.

A total of six goals and three assists by the end of October.

This then culminated in Siem de Jong getting his first Eredivisie start just before the international break, playing the first 77 minutes as Ajax lost 2-1 at home to Utrecht, the former Newcastle player having left the pitch at 1-1.

In total, Siem de Jong has played 388 minutes to help produce nine goals – six for him and creating three for others.

Set to turn 29 in January, the Dutch international looks to be showing that he retains much of the ability he had in his first spell at Ajax, but that still wouldn’t be enough to succeed in the Premier League where he lacked the physical attributes – pace/stamina, to be a success. A succession of injuries a big contributory factor.

Ajax Official Statement – 28 August 2017:

Siem de Jong returns to Ajax

Ajax has reached agreement with Siem de Jong and Newcastle United on the transfer from the player to Amsterdam. He signed a contract for three seasons in Amsterdam, until 30 June 2020.

De Jong was born on 28 January 1989 in Aigle, Switzerland.

The attacking midfielder also played at Ajax in the period 2005 to 2014.

He made his debut in the first team on the 26th of September 2007 during the KNVB Cup against Kozakken Boys.

Four times champion, the KNVB Cup and the Johan Cruijff Scale

De Jong played 244 official matches in the first team of Ajax and scored 78 goals.

He won the KNVB Cup in 2010 with the club and won the league with Ajax four times (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014).

In 2013 he also won the Johan Cruyff Shield.

For Newcastle United, De Jong played 21 games in which he scored once. Last season, he was loaned out to PSV.


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