Nigel de Jong is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Italian Serie A club Milan and the Netherlands national football team. He joined the Ajax youth academy as a youngster and worked his way through the ranks to make the first team at age 17. He scored his first goal of his senior career on 18 February 2003 in a 1–1 draw against Arsenal in the Champions League. He became a first team regular the following season, in which Ajax won the Eredivisie title. On 26 January 2006, De Jong signed a four and a half year contract at German Bundesliga club Hamburg, the transfer fee approximately €1 million. In March 2006 De Jong scored the winning goal in Bayern Munich's first ever defeat at the Allianz Arena. On 21 January 2009, De Jong was signed to Manchester City on a four-and-a-half year contract, for an estimated fee of £18 million. He was named Man of the Match by Sky Sports in a 2–1 win over Chelsea on 5 December 2009. De Jong scored his first goal for Manchester City in a 2–1 victory against West Ham United on 1 May 2011. On 31 August 2012, De Jong joined Italian Serie A side Milan for £3.5 million rising to £5 million depending on appearances, signing a three-year deal.
