Dutch international Nigel de Jong has joined Manchester City from Bundesliga club Hamburg for an as of yet unconfirmed fee.

 

The 24 year-old former Ajax star signs on a four and a half year deal reputed to have cost City substantially more than the nominal circa £2M that he could have been signed for come the summer. Hamburg paid £1.2M for his services in 2006 but de Jong has previously expressed a desire to play at the very highest level and clearly sees an opportunity to enter the Premiership as being exactly that.

Mark Hughes’ capture of de Jong follows on closely from the signing of Craig Bellamy from West Ham and will raise spirits at least in part following the abortive attempt to lure ex World Player of the Year Kaka from Milan. He may well not be the final arrival at City before the closure of the transfer window although City refuse to be drawn on other targets.