Biography
Who is Siem de Jong?
Early life and youth career
Siem de Jong Stefan de Jong was born on January 28, 1989, in Aigle, Switzerland. His parents, George de Jong and Loekie Raterink, worked as professional volleyball players in Switzerland at that time. The family relocated to the Netherlands when Siem reached the age of six. He grew up in Doetinchem and started his football path at the local amateur club DZC'68. At age 12, he was scouted by De Graafschap. He attended het Rietveld Lyceum, a school that also counts Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Paul Bosvelt among its former students. Siem remained with De Graafschap until 2005, when he joined the youth academy at Ajax. His younger sibling Luuk de Jong also works as a professional athlete.
Success with Ajax
Siem made his first-team debut for Ajax on September 26, 2007, against Kozakken Boys. He quickly established himself as a key player for the Amsterdam side. During the 2007–08 season, he was the only player under 20 to feature in more than 20 games for the club. In 2011, he scored two goals in a title-deciding match against Twente, securing the club's 30th Eredivisie championship. He was appointed team captain in the summer of 2012 following the departure of Jan Vertonghen. During his time as captain, he led Ajax to four consecutive Eredivisie titles from 2011 to 2014. He also scored important goals in the Champions League, including strikes against Manchester City in 2012.
International and club career abroad
In July 2014, Siem moved to the Premier League, signing a six-year contract with Newcastle United for a fee of approximately £6 million. His time in England was impacted by injuries, including a thigh injury and a collapsed lung. In August 2016, he returned to the Netherlands on a season-long loan to PSV Eindhoven. He returned to Ajax in 2017 on a three-year deal. His career path later took him abroad again, as he joined the Australian A-League side Sydney FC on loan in 2018. He was a member of the squad that won the 2019 A-League Grand Final. In February 2020, he signed with the MLS club FC Cincinnati, but he was released by the end of that year. He later returned to the Netherlands to play for SC Heerenveen.
Throughout his international career, he played for various Dutch youth teams before making his senior debut for the Netherlands in August 2010 against Ukraine.
Retirement and administrative work
In June 2022, Siem returned to his boyhood club, De Graafschap, signing a one-year contract. He announced his intention to retire from professional football on May 18, 2023, just before the final match of the season. Following his retirement, he moved into the administrative and technical side of the sport. In January 2024, he began a specialized traineeship program at Ajax. This program was created to help former players gain experience in various club departments, such as marketing, facilities, and technical management. By March 2024, he had taken on a focused role within the technical heart of the organization.
Birthday and age
Siem de Jong was born on January 28, 1989, which makes Siem 37 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Siem shares the date with 58 other famous people.
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