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Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong celebrates his 25th birthday on Thursday and has already arrived at a bit of a crossroads in his career.

The Barcelona star emerged as one of the brightest young players in world football ahead of his move to the Camp Nou, having shone for Ajax in the Eredivisie and on the Champions League stage. His performances at the Johan Cruyff Arena saw the Dutch giants bank a reported €86 million (£73.7m) for his services.

That represented a considerable profit for the Amsterdam powerhouses having reportedly signed him for just €1 from boyhood club Willem II back in the summer of 2015. The switch to Catalonia made De Jong one of the most expensive Dutch players in history - with compatriot and former Ajax teammate Matthijs de Ligt also securing a big-money switch to Juventus in the same summer.

With the Blaugrana still looking for a viable successor to the likes of Andres Iniesta - and the indomitable figure of Johan Cruyff still playing a role in the club’s approach both on and off the pitch - all was set up for De Jong to succeed in Spain. It hasn’t quite panned out that way.

Despite having accumulated 138 appearances for Barcelona since his arrival in the summer of 2019, he has endured a frustrating time at the Camp Nou. Barcelona have only won one trophy in the years since de Jong was signed, the 2021 Copa del Rey representing their only success over