Luuk de Jong has made a surprising move to FC Porto after being a free agent following the expiration of his contract with PSV Eindhoven. The 35-year-old striker joins the Portuguese club, which is under the management of Francesco Farioli, who was previously at Ajax.
This transfer comes as a surprise as De Jong was rumored to be returning to Sevilla, with Fiorentina and several clubs from Saudi Arabia also expressing interest. Porto had not been mentioned in the conversations leading up to his transfer.
Throughout his two stints at PSV, De Jong secured five league titles and two KNVB Cups. There had been speculation about whether he would extend his contract with PSV, particularly after he missed the team’s entire pre-season under coach Peter Bosz.
Previously, De Jong has had international experiences with clubs such as Borussia Mönchengladbach, Newcastle United, Sevilla, and FC Barcelona.
The rivalry between De Jong’s PSV and Farioli’s Ajax intensified last season as they competed fiercely for the league title. Following a critical match where Ajax secured a 2-0 victory in Eindhoven, it appeared they might clinch the title, but PSV ultimately triumphed after a significant comeback late in the season. Notably, Farioli announced his departure from Ajax just a day after the final match.
This transfer to Porto marks a new chapter in De Jong’s career, providing him with an opportunity to compete at a high level and potentially contribute to Porto’s success in domestic and European competitions. Fans will be eager to see how he adapts to this new environment and what impact he will have on the pitch.