page_title: Nigel de Jong
hierarchical_section_title: Nigel de Jong
caption_attribution_description: English: Nigel de Jong at a training session of the Netherlands national team on 7 November 2011.
context_page_description: Nigel de Jong is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Qatar Stars League club Al-Shahania.
  De Jong joined the Ajax youth academy as a youngster and worked his way through the ranks to make the first team at age 17. Two years later, he made his international debut, and obtained 81 caps between 2004 and 2015, scoring one goal. He took part at two European Championships and two editions of the FIFA World Cup with Netherlands, winning a World Cup runners-up medal in 2010, and a bronze medal at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
  De Jong moved on from Ajax in 2006 to join Hamburg in search of first team football and then moved to Manchester City in January 2009 for an estimated £18 million, where he became an important part of City's holding midfield. A tireless grafter, he has garnered a reputation of being a combative and feisty player in his performances, a reputation that has earned him nicknames such as "The Destroyer" and "Lawnmower". He moved to Italian side A.C. Milan in August 2012 where he spent three and half years, before moving to MLS side LA Galaxy in February 2016.
context_section_description: Nigel de Jong ([ˈnɑiɟəl də ˈjɔŋ]; born 30 November 1984) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Qatar Stars League club Al-Shahania.
  De Jong joined the Ajax youth academy as a youngster and worked his way through the ranks to make the first team at age 17. Two years later, he made his international debut, and obtained 81 caps between 2004 and 2015, scoring one goal. He took part at two European Championships and two editions of the FIFA World Cup with Netherlands, winning a World Cup runners-up medal in 2010, and a bronze medal at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
  De Jong moved on from Ajax in 2006 to join Hamburg in search of first team football and then moved to Manchester City in January 2009 for an estimated £18 million, where he became an important part of City's holding midfield. A tireless grafter, he has garnered a reputation of being a combative and feisty player in his performances, a reputation that has earned him nicknames such as "The Destroyer" and "Lawnmower". He moved to Italian side A.C. Milan in August 2012 where he spent three and half years, before moving to MLS side LA Galaxy in February 2016. He subsequently had spells with Galatasaray in Turkey, Mainz 05 in Germany, and Al Ahli and Al-Shahania in Qatar.
caption: De Jong with the Netherlands national team in 2011
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