Siem de Jong: 'I don't see myself returning to Ajax as a player' | OneFootball

Siem de Jong admitted he will probably never to return to Ajax as a player after joining Major League Soccer’s FC Cincinnati back in February.

The 31-year-old came through the Ajax academy and made 277 appearances in two separate stints for the club but hadn’t made a single start for Ajax in nearly two years until he scored a hat-trick against third-tier Spakenburg in January.

In a farewell interview with Ajax TV, he virtually ruled out returning as a player but revealed his desire to have a career in football with the Dutch giants after his playing career ends.

“Maybe after football, but I cannot imagine that I will return as a football player. But you never know: Ryan Babel was also a little older, so it is still possible,” De Jong said.

“I don’t see myself returning as a player, I think. I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do after my career, but if it’s something in football, I hope I will come back here someday.

“I do quite a lot of American sports and am curious about the MLS.

“I know that the competition is fierce with the Ajax first-team and I am no longer allowed to play with Jong Ajax, so I did not really get into any matches.”

De Jong is still acclimating to his new club and has yet to make the matchday squad. FC Cincinnati has started their MLS campaign with road losses at New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United.