Galatasaray midfielder De Jong joins Mainz

Mainz have signed defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong from Turkish football outfit Galatsaray with immediate effect, the struggling Bundesliga club announced.

The Netherlands international, whose running contract at Galatasaray has been voided, joins Mainz after putting pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Nigel de Jong is a leader, a fighter, but also a top professional. He can help the team with his tremendous experience. We are happy that we could win a player with his qualities," Mainz' sporting director Rouven Schroeder said.

The Dutchman knows the Bundesliga as he played from 2006 until 2009 for Hamburg to make 66 games in Germany's top flight. Mainz' new arrival is a football veteran who played for Manchester City, AC Milan and Los Angeles Galaxy to make overall 506 competitive appearances.

"I want to help the club achieve their sportive goals this season. I am grateful to those responsible for giving me the chance here and I am happy to return to the Bundesliga, one of the top European leagues," De Jong told the club's official homepage.

Mainz sit currently on the 15th place of the standings. They sit two points adrift from the drop zone before they encounter newly promoted Hannover at the 18th round of Bundesliga on January 12.

--IANS

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