Transfer News: Frenkie de Jong Signs with Barcelona for €75M
The January transfer window is heating up finally.
Highly sought after Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong has signed with Barcelona for €75M ($85.45M USD). However, the 21 year-old will not join Camp Nou until this summer.
The contract is for 5 years and includes €11m in variables.
Ajax has been resurgent this campaign with de Jong, currently ranked 9th in FiveThirtyEight’s Global Soccer Rankings. They’re on pace to capture their first Eredivisie title since 2013-14.
The usual suspects were after de Jong, including PSG, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich.
What you’ve all been waiting for… pic.twitter.com/gDE1mujMLF
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 23, 2019
Ajax vs. Real Madrid Champions League Match-Up
Throughout the aggressive transfer courtship, de Jong maintained he wanted to see out the season and Ajax’s Champions League run. Ajax face Real Madrid in the Round of 16. Interestingly, analytics has Ajax slightly favored to win, but oddsmakers such as FanDuel have them as a big underdog at +240 to Real’s -330 to advance.
Given Los Blancos recent form, there’s value in Ajax there.
FIFA 19 Is Trolling Mo Salah, Attributes Him “Diving” Trait
Well, the whole Mohamed Salah dives thing just got ratcheted up a notch.
Now FIFA 19 is apparently trolling the Egyptian King.
Anyone who says FIFA isn’t realistic don’t know what they’re talking about…… pic.twitter.com/2nInEd2uXT
— Jack H (@JMHTHFC99) January 21, 2019
And FIFA 19 has attributed Salah with a “diving” trait. This despite clear penalties against Salah in three of the four times he’s recently fallen in the penalty box.
It’s not all bad for Liverpool though, as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, and Georgino Wijnaldum have all received player upgrades.