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Nigel de Jong contract extended until 2006

25 February: On the same day Rafaël van der Vaart signed his new contract with Ajax (Friday), Ajax has tied another one of its most talented youngsters to the club: Nigel de Jong's contract was revised and extended until the summer of 2006.

De Jong's old contract would have expired at the end of next season. Two extra years were added to it. The financial terms were also revised. As usual, Ajax did not reveal any of the financial details.

With two self-developed talents signing new contracts, Friday 21 February was a good day for the future of Ajax. Understandably, technical director Leo Beenhakker was a satisfied man: "This is a memorable day. With Nigel de Jong and Rafaël van der Vaart we have tied two tremendous talents to the club. A very good thing for the club."

Nigel de Jong (born Amsterdam, 30 November 1984) can be used on several defense and midfield positions. He is a product of the Ajax youth ranks, to which he said goodbye by being a member of two championship winning teams last season: both Ajax A1 and Young Ajax.

Aged 17, he made his Ajax-1 debut on 19 October of last year, in the Eredivisie home game against AZ (6-2). He since performed in nine Eredivisie games and no less than six Champions League. The world outside The Netherlands got to know him when he scored Ajax's stunning equalizer at Highbury, against Arsenal FC, on 18 February - his very first and so far only goal for Ajax. He is also a regular for the Young Oranje national team. (MP)

(Source: Ajax.nl)