LaLiga: Barcelona to sign Frenkie de Jong

Catalan giants Barcelona have completed a big-money signing: dutch starlet Frenkie de Jong will join the Blaugrana from Ajax Amsterdam for a fee of 65 million pounds. The 21-year-old midfielder will remain at Ajax until the end of the current season, after that he will start his five-year contract with Barcelona. De Jong will become the 20th Dutchman to play for Barcelona, a series that started with huge names such as Johan Cruyff, Ronald Koeman and Patrick Kluivert. De Jong is essentially a playmaker, but he has also played as a central defender for Ajax. Barcelona describe him as a "polyvalent player with an excellent reading of the game and ability to provide the killer pass". De Jong was a transfer target for several big European clubs. "I spoke to Paris Saint-Germain, yes'" De Jong admitted. "I rang Maxwell to tell him I was not joining them and my agent informed PSG. I also spoke with Guardiola about a move to Man City. Clubs all try to convince you when they want you. I am happy and proud that they did so much to get me. Barcelona have wanted me for a long time, they already tried to sign me last year. But they also have their financial situation, they can't just spend loads of money." Barcelona had already signed two players during the January transfer window, both on loan until the end of the season: Jeison Murillo from Valencia and Kevin-Prince Boateng from Sassuolo. De Jong joined Ajax from Willem II in 2015 and during the the 2016-2017 season, while playing for the youth team of Ajax, he was awarded the Jupiler League's Talent of the Season award. He has scored 5 goals in 65 matches for Ajax Amsterdam and he has also collected five caps for the Dutch national team. He has scored three goals and also provided three assists for Ajax Amsterdam this season. Fellow Ajax youngster Matthijs de Ligt has also been linked with a move to Barcelona, as well as Man City, PSG and Juventus. De Ligt, who is a central defender, is just 19 years old. Barcelona are currently leading the LaLiga table and they are 1/9 at Bet365 to win the title this season.