Netherlands international Nigel de Jong has signed a two-year deal with Istanbul giants Galatasaray, saying he wanted to return to Europe after just half a year with MLS outfit LA Galaxy.
The famously hard-tackling defensive midfielder will receive a guaranteed salary of 2.5 million euros for each of the seasons along with bonuses after arriving on a free transfer, the club said in a statement.
"I stayed six months in Los Angeles. I wanted to return to Europe again. I love football and I am a football guy. Galatasaray gave me the chance to return to a European atmosphere," de Jong told Galatasaray's in house TV channel.
The move will unite de Jong with his Netherlands teammate and Galatasaray stalwart since 2013, the striker Wesley Sneijder.
"I am very happy to be playing in the same team as him. He is a great fighter and someone who loves to win," said de Jong, adding he had called Sneijder ahead of the move.
De Jong's combative style - as seen in his notorious chest high studs-out challenge on Spain's Xabi Alonso in the 2010 World Cup final - did not always go down well in the MLS and may find a better home in the rough-and-tumble of the Turkish Super League.
His presence should reinforce the back line of Galatasaray who could only manage sixth in the Super League last season.
In other deals in Turkey announced before the end of the transfer window, Senegal's international striker Moussa Sow joined Galatasaray's arch Istanbul rivals and 2015-2016 Super League runners-up Fenerbahçe on a one-year loan deal from Egypt's Al-Ahly.
Sow played for Fenerbahçe from 2012-2015 in a successful stint. "Welcome back to your home," said the club.
Meanwhile, league champions Beşiktaş of Istanbul said they had acquired Turkish center back Atinc Nukan on a one year loan from RB Leipzig of Germany.
Nukan had grown up with Beşiktaş in its youth system and then played five seasons in its senior team.
Outside of Istanbul, Dutch international midfielder Adam Maher joined Osmanlıspor of Ankara on a one-year loan deal.
But the biggest rumored deal for a Turkish side failed to come to fruition, with France's Samir Nasri opting to join Sevilla on a one-year loan from Manchester City and not Beşiktaş as had been speculated.
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