Siem signs on!

A better de Jong?
A better de Jong?
I had almost finished writing an article late last night when news broke which meant I had to pretty much bin the whole thing.

Never mind. I’ve had a nice couple of weeks in Turkey enjoying the culture (Efes, Raki, Quad Bikes etc) so don’t mind starting again.

Anyway the subject of the planned article was that basically that during all the time I’ve been away stationed in some mountains somewhere not too far from Syria, in a land forgotten by the internet, that nothing has changed.

Less than 12 hours after my return, and no more than five minutes before publishing a fresh article which you’ve no doubt been waiting for, there has been a change and we’ve managed to sign former Ajax captain Siem de Jong.

The 25-year-old has signed a six-year contract with the club for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £6m-£7.5m – a reduction on the £15 million Ajax were looking for last summer, presumably as the Dutch club fear losing him for nothing when his contract expires in the summer.

Born in Switzerland to Dutch parents, de Jong has represented Holland at every level and currently has six full international caps with two goals to his name. During is time at Ajax he racked up 244 appearances in all competitions over seven seasons, scoring 78 goals operating mainly as an attacking midfielder with occasional stints as a striker when required. Here is a video of him in action.

The lad has shown class in the Dutch league but only time will tell if he can replicate that in what is a much tougher league. Maybe I’m just being overly cautious after the failed loan spell his brother Luuk had with us last season? I don’t know. I’d be ecstatic if it worked out though.

This is now our third summer signing following the arrivals of Jack Colback and Ayoze Perez earlier on the summer, but more still needs to be done if we are to have a squad anywhere near ready for the new season which is now approximately seven weeks away.

Maybe this is just the start of that process?

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

1,107 thoughts on “Siem signs on!

  1. Aussie – all the way to Europe and you chose to do THAT! Nice way to cement your reputation.

    Richie – no that’s not asking too much. The way I figure it we’ve missed about £60m of spending in the last two years. Then we’ve pulled off smart deals in Cabella, De Jong and Janmaat(?) and saved nearly £10m from the Deb Cab sales.

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  2. TDS It also means Ashley is backing his manager. I’m actually shocked and surprised and a little gob smacked to tell you the truth. It’s a very pleasant feeling having an owner that seems to care. Janmatt a world cup semi finalist joining us I’m excited.

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  3. Terry – fair play to you mate, true to your word 😉 respect you for that.

    I doubted Ashley as well until the De Jong signing, which got me thinking we may be in business this window. I think his aim is to make the club self sufficient and maybe we just haven’t had the money to get the plays in in other windows. But they have played the waiting game knowing this TV money was coming, and some of their targets would be available this window and they’re going for it.

    We still need players in, but signing De Jong and Cabella already will help with that I think. I’m sure potential signing will look at who clubs have signed or sold and it could influence their decision.
    For example, Remy may have not fancied a move to us knowing that we had little creativity and that we would have been pinning all our hopes on him to win games. But now we’ve signed these 2 and hopefully Rivière too, then Remy may look at us differently. He may now think, actually I can go there and still be the main man, but the pressure to deliver week in week out isnt as great because there are others there now who create my goals and take the heat off if he’s having a bad day at the office.

    2 CFs and replace Debuchy and MYM if they go and we have a good squad in place for next season IMO.

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  4. At the risk of pissing on everyones chips, I think it’s worth remembering that we aren’t really improving the squad with these signings. We are only replacing players that have left.

    Cabella = HBA likely to be gone
    De Jong = Cabaye
    Janmat = Debuchy

    Colback is the only real addition to the squad I see so far in terms of increasing our numbers.

    Mbwia is off to France and we really are so short at centre back it’s frightening.

    So although were making signings and I am happy about it, I am actually not convinced its improving the squad in terms of numbers.

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  5. TERRY

    I still don’t think he cares. He’s all about the value of his assets and NUFC is one of those. We just have to be thankful that looking after those interests means that sometimes we get what we want too! 🙂

    He backed Pardew when he didn’t sack him last season. Now he’ll be expecting another top half finish and preferably more convincing.

    Will bring in more sponsors and better young players…

    Must finish my article…

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  6. Stuart79 If M. Richard’s takes a pay cut then surely it make sense to sign him from M City? He has much needed experience at CB and RB.
    His better than S Taylor and Williamson so why not try at least. Nothing to lose, he can only say no. O.k there’s probably agent fee’s for Mike to pay out but it would strengthen the defence.

    TDS protecting your investment does kind of mean you care. In a way that he wants the value to increase. He will walk away with all his money back and make a nice profit.

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  7. Weve still got 29 players over 21

    So still some shedding to be done if we are to bring in more, As i cant see them bringing in players on high wages while Ben Arfa, Marveaux, Obertan, Jonas etc. are raking it in while not even getting in match day squads

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  8. Stuart @ 1054. Krul will be away sometime in the future, and Tiote leaves every window, and then there’s Sissoko – he’ll be gone in the future as well – not to mention Colo and Obertan and Marveaux and … 🙄

    None of them have been replaced. It’s hopeless! Life is hopeless. Where’re the razorblades?

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  9. CC, That’s an excellent point mate and also a big problem for the club as we desperately need to shift the dead and expensive wood in order to bring in better players.

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  10. Stu – it’s improving the squads quality over quantity mate. I know your saying Cabella replaces Benny (if he goes) but Benny isn’t playing, he barely makes the bench!. This way we get a first team creative player over a bench warmer.
    Shola out Rivière in – but if Rivière scores 2 goals a season we have improved our squad!! (I think he’ll get more by the way I’m just saying the bar isn’t set high for him).
    The size of the squad is limited anyway so the only way we can improve it is with quality – and the players we’ve got are definately better IMO.
    De Jong is still the signing for me.

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  11. Ok time for an apology:

    Sorry Lee Charnley. I had little faith in you but you are running this window with a competence that we haven’t seen for awhile. Well done sir….

    I feel better now:)

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  12. TERRY

    Kind of, yes. I think he cares about the value of his assets, but not necessarily the feelings of the fans.

    Richards would be good but only if one of our other CBs leave. Saylor would be first out of the door for me.

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  13. finally Mike Ashley is trying to improve our team not just the finances 😆

    its looking really good with more players in the pipeline..

    must be those falling season ticket sales or JFK was a complete too last season.. 😀

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  14. TDS Yeah Taylor’s rubbish. Harry Rednapp might have lost interest now they have Rio Ferdinand. I can’t see us getting rid of Jonas or Obertan unfortunately. Charnley would have to be one hell of a negotiator to get rid of them. Loan route probably the best option. I would also like to apologies to everyone for calling them fucking idiots for believing Mike would spend money on players. I had a little outburst and I’m sorry. I’m off now catch you later.

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  15. Kim – bloody hell there’s nee hanging about like is there!! 😯 😛
    It’s good that we have hung on to Debuchy until his replacement has been signed – I’d be buzzing if that included Joel Campbell in some way.

    TDS – mutually beneficial I think is the term you’re looking for mate.

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  16. Mark – that’s De Jong, Cabella and Janmaat who will be on 6 yr deals. He loves his long contracts does Ashley doesn’t he?!.
    Could there be buy out clauses built into them? – who gives a ****?! They’re here now and they’ll wear black n white next season 😛

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  17. Get French Football

    “Contrary to reports, Mapou Yanga MBiwa has not agreed personal terms with St Étienne. Discussions not advanced”

    Whey stick to your guns lad, Pardews only got 6 years left you can outlast him yet… 😯

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  18. CC @1057

    I think players like Vuckic, Ferguson, Jonas, Good and maybe Abeid will be excluded from that list and we will try to move them on. Loan or sell.

    I thought its was only 27 players we had as well but either way we will have room for 1 or 2 more players not including Janmaat as he will directly replace Debuchy.

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  19. Too much of this positive outpouring and I’ll be the one accused of being negative! 😉

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  20. Man United in a 10 year kit deal with Adidas worth £750 million. **** me the financial fair play has no effect on theses teams its a joke.

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  21. Kim – you stole my thunder lass 👿 It would be bloody brilliant to get shot of that hideous blue muck off the front of our great strip and from around the ground!.

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  22. Sky and a few other places are reporting that the fee for Cabella is £7 million.

    If that’s true that is an amazing piece of work by the club and looks like we made Nicollin panic.

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  23. Santii – I heard £8m. Either way it’s along way from 16m euros. Would love it if wonga goes, I hate seeing kids walking around with that on the shirt.

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  24. Kim – I read that too. Obviously it’s for the money. Nobody goes to Turkey for any other reason. Shame because he was always a threat around the box even if his control was poor. Next please. Who do you fancy?

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  25. Well Hearts ditched Wonga and the Church of England have severed ties with them now, so what are we waiting for 😕

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  26. Georgio, would like to get Remy back but would be in dreamland if we could get Lukaku and wouldn’t mind Bony either 😉

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  27. Man City Kim 😀

    The Ba link looked totally fan made imo and any deal was never on the table.

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  28. Hernandez would be a great signing. I think his style of play would fit perfectly with our recent signings

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  29. I still have 4 emoticons missing, anyone else got some missing ❓ They been AWOL for weeks now.

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  30. 🙄 😳 😆 😥
    Right I have just clicked on them and it comes up what they are so lets see if they appear .

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  31. Given that we have a total income, projected, of maybe £150m pa it kind of puts task into perspective.

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  32. I don’t understand Swansea?!, they know they are likely to loose Bony this window so they get Gomis on a free. But they have loaned Michu to Napoli?! – is there squad good enough to enable them to do that like?

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  33. Unfortunately as far as I can see there’s not a single thing in that Wonga article to indicate they have any intention of pulling the plug on it 🙁 headlines sell papers tho! 😕

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  34. Kim…I reckon it’s just wishful thinking, they are talking about the “puppet ads” only which are often criticised. Apart from owt else it’ll be a legally binding contract so you can’t just pull out without good reason, NUFC maybe have a good reason but Wonga don’t, unless we can cancel it (and there’s been no sign that NUFC want too) then I think we’re stuck with them.

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  35. Sharpy…Sorry mate, would love to be wrong but I can’t even see a glimmer of hope from that article 😥

    Ice 😉 😛

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