Swiss midfielder Siem de Jong is featured today in an interview with Voetbal International, and the big news is that he’s finally getting back in a shape he didn’t have for years.
Following a January move to Eridivisie side Heerenveen, he’s featured in all of their eight games so far, hoping to stay fit for as long as he can.
De Jong is remembered by the tough times he’s had a Newcastle United, and when speaking to Voetbal International, he recalls it was at the Premier League club that his issues began.
“In my years at Ajax there was never a problem. I didn’t have to think about anything, because I could count on my body and knew that in principle I would play every game. That changed after my transfer to Newcastle United. Those injuries have affected me a lot. time and energy and had a significant impact on my career“, he said (via Voetbal Primeur).
“It all started with a collapsed lung. From there it went downhill with regard to injuries and I never got the rhythm that I was used to from my first period at Ajax.
“I’ve had everything examined, but nothing tangible has ever emerged. The funny thing is that I have always kept feeling good physically, I never had the idea that there was really something wrong with me. That also made it frustrating.”
De Jong joined Newcastle United on a €8.7m move from Ajax back in 2014. In two years with the Magpies, he was only able to make 26 appearances due to injury issues.
In 2016, the midfielder was loaned to PSV, and when returning to St James’ Park in 2017, he was immediately sold back to Ajax on a €2.3m transfer.
He then played for Sydney FC in Australia and FC Cincinnati in the United States before joining Heerenveen this year.
