TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report
FC Cincinnati
is close to bringing in Dutch attacker Siem de Jong, according to a Monday report out of the Netherlands.
Per Mike Verweij of Dutch paper De Telegraaf
, a deal between the sides is nearing completion, with de Jong set to travel to Cincinnati this week and undergo a medical examination. The deal would reportedly be a one-year loan with options for 2021 and 2022.
Speculation over an impending deal has also been reported by The Athletic and the Cincinnati Enquirer.
According to Verweij, the move comes as a bit of surprise in one respect after Ajax manager Erik ten Hag had previously said he was pleased with de Jong's performance at Ajax's training camp in Qatar. However, he had fallen out of the club's first-choice XI and carried a hefty salary, which evidently led the Dutch giants to seek a transfer.
De Jong, 31, started his career with Ajax in 2007, racking up 57 goals in 168 appearances while helping the club to four straight Eredivise titles from 2011-2014. He made 22 appearances for Newcastle United from 2014-2017 and also had a stint on loan with PSV Eindhoven in 2016-2017. He rejoined Ajax in 2017 and was loaned to Australian side Sydney FC, where he netted four times in 17 appearances in 2018-2019.
