Siem de Jong Rejects Move To Reading FC

According to reports in the Netherlands, Newcastle United’s Siem de Jong has turned down a move to Reading in favour of joining Ajax as he looks to get his career back on track.

De Telegraaf claim that the Royals had agreed a €2.2 million (around £2 million) deal to sign the 28-year-old on a three year deal and were also willing to match the large salary that he is currently on in the North East.

However de Jong, who has been capped six times by the Netherlands at senior level, has chosen to take a pay cut to return to Ajax after speaking to manager Marcel Keizer on the phone.

The forward began his career in Amsterdam, making a first senior appearance aged 18 in 2007 before going on to play a total of 244 games for the Dutch club, scoring 78 goals and winning four league titles. In 2014 he moved to Newcastle United for a reported fee of £6 million, but featured just five times (one goal) in his first campaign at St. James’ Park before making 21 appearances (one goal) in 2015/16 as the Magpies were relegated to the Championship. Instead of playing in the second tier last season, de Jong joined PSV on loan and did seem to be slightly invigorated by a spell back in his homeland, netting six goals in 23 games.