Luuk de Jong, the captain of PSV Eindhoven, has made it clear that he has no intention of playing for another Dutch club, amid swirling rumors linking him to FC Utrecht. The striker, whose contract with PSV is set to expire at the end of the season, addressed the speculation during an interview, expressing his commitment to finish the season strong with his current team.
Last Sunday on the show Studio Voetbal, journalist Arno Vermeulen suggested that FC Utrecht, currently sitting fourth in the Eredivisie, was interested in acquiring De Jong as a free agent. However, De Jong quickly dismissed these claims. "I saw it pop up on the internet. FC Utrecht was mentioned. I just indicated that if I continue playing in the Netherlands, it will be with PSV," he stated, as reported by ESPN.
The 34-year-old forward expressed his surprise at the rumors, stating, "I don’t understand where they come from. I have an expiring contract and have not indicated much about it yet. I am in talks with PSV and have not made a decision. I still need to evaluate everything, and then they speculate, of course. That’s part of the job, I suppose.”
De Jong’s future has been a hot topic among fans and analysts alike. With several other key players, including Oliver Boscagli, Walter Benítez, and Rick Karsdorp, confirmed to leave PSV after this season, the club is facing a significant transition. While the club hopes to retain De Jong, the forward has kept his options open, stating that he wants to play at a level where he can compete for trophies.
"I want to play for clubs where you can compete for prizes and titles. That is possible at PSV, so I am still in discussions. I will finish this season and then see what I really want to do," De Jong explained.
Since returning to PSV in the summer of 2022—after an earlier stint from 2014 to 2019—De Jong has made a significant impact on the team. He has played 333 matches for PSV, scoring 184 goals and providing 96 assists. Last season, he was instrumental in helping the team secure their first league title since 2018, contributing 29 goals and fifteen assists.
This season, however, has been less prolific for De Jong. In 42 matches across all competitions, he has managed to score 16 goals and provide 11 assists. PSV's campaign has been marred by missed opportunities; they lost to Feyenoord in August for the Johan Cruijff Schaal and were eliminated from the KNVB Cup in February. Furthermore, they faced a disappointing exit from the Champions League at the hands of Arsenal in March.
Currently, PSV is trailing league leaders Ajax by nine points following a 0-2 defeat on March 30, making their title defense unlikely. De Jong emphasized the importance of finishing the season on a high note, aiming for a second-place finish in the league. "I want to finish this season well. We are going all out for second place," he said.
As for his future beyond the pitch, De Jong has hinted at a desire to remain involved with PSV in some capacity once he hangs up his boots. "If I ever stop, I would like to do something within PSV. I am still in talks with the club about that," he noted.
With the Eredivisie season drawing to a close, De Jong's situation remains uncertain. While he has ruled out a move to FC Utrecht, the possibility of continuing with PSV hinges on ongoing discussions with the club. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how this situation unfolds in the coming weeks.
