Netherlands' De Jong out of Euro 2024 due to injury

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The Netherlands will be without star midfielder Frenkie de Jong at Euro 2024, the team announced Monday.

The 27-year-old, sidelined by an ankle injury since April, was hopeful of recovering in time for the tournament after participating in training with his Dutch teammates this week. Instead, the Oranje officially ruled out De Jong less than a week before their opener against Poland.

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said Sunday he was prepared to keep De Jong in his squad even if he missed the team's first two matches of the tournament. But Koeman cautioned that he'd reconsider his decision if the player had to miss the entire group stage.

Koeman still has time to call up a replacement and could turn to one of the players he cut from his initial 30-man squad, including Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen, who excelled on loan at Borussia Dortmund.

PSV Eindoven's Jerdy Schouten and Joey Veerman are the two most likely to relieve De Jong as Koeman's midfield pivot. AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders and Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch can also play deeper roles in midfield.

De Jong missed 27 games due to ankle injuries during the 2023-24 season, according to transfermarkt.com. His last appearance for club or country was in El Clasico on April 21.