The 29-year-old failed to cement a starting spot in his second stint at the Eredivisie powerhouse and has been given the greenlight to join the Sky Blues.

The reigning premiers are in desperate need of some firepower after losing last season’s Golden Boot winner Bobo and Johnny Warren medallist Adrian Mierzejewski.

De Jong's first impressive stint with Ajax earned him a six-year deal with Premier League outfit Newcastle in 2014 but his time in England was cruelled by a series of freak injuries.

Still, Sydney FC coach Steve Corica has spoken glowingly of the six-cap international who can play as an attacking midfielder or forward.

“He has got a very good pedigree. We’re looking for players like that, we want good quality coming to the club,” Corica said recently.

“Hopefully in the next three or four days we can confirm who the marquee will be, but he’s one of the players that we have spoken to, but there’s been quite a few of them.

“We’ve looked at over 450 players this season, so it’s been a long journey and there’s still more coming in at the moment.

“We’ve just got to take our time and make sure we get the right player that fits into the way we want to play.”

A couple of unconvincing wins over lower league opposition in the FFA Cup suggests Sydney's previously ruthless attack has been seriously blunted in the off-season.

Former Bolton striker Adam le Fondre signed with Sydney last week but has yet to turn out for the harbour-siders. 

De Jong will likely see the move as a chance to reboot his career after Bobo and Mierzejewski both earned lucractive deals following back-to-back title winning campaigns.

The Dutchman will unite with compatriot and centre back Jop van der Linden who joined Sydney this month, bringing the total number of visa players at the club to four.

Sydney FC's other marquee is former Johnny Warren medallist Milos Ninkovic.