Hamburg win race for De Jong
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Article summary
Midfielder Nigel de Jong has become the third Dutch international at Bundesliga hopefuls Hamburger SV after securing a €1.5m move from AFC Ajax.
Article body
Dutch exiles
The versatile Netherlands midfielder has agreed a three-and-a-half year deal with the UEFA Cup hopefuls, ending a four-year spell in the first team at the Amsterdam ArenA. The 21-year-old, whose contract was due to expire in July, joins a growing number of Dutch exiles at the AOL Arena, with fellow internationals Rafael van der Vaart and Khalid Boulahrouz already impressing with the Bundesliga outfit.
Squad strengthening
Coming so soon after the arrival of Ailton, the move will send a clear message of intent to both Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern München and UEFA Cup Round of 32 opponents FC Thun. Meanwhile, the side that helped knock the Swiss team out of the UEFA Champions League, Ajax will go into their last-16 tie in that competition against FC Internazionale Milano shorn of a key player.