The January transfer window has been pretty quiet to be honest but one brand is still keeping busy recruiting Europe’s finest footballers.

Today Sport-locker.net can reveal that PUMA have signed a long-term partnership with Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong.

The battling bulldog will wear the PUMA PowerCat 1.12 football boots on the pitch – leaving his trusted adiPUREs behind him.

Many of you would have spotted him changing his boots in recent weeks (and those of you that follow him @NDJ_Official on Twitter would have seen the photo he posted), but it is now 100% official!

De Jong has successfully tested the boots in recent training sessions and on-field. The PUMA PowerCat 1.12 feature the new PUMA 3D DUO Power Shooting Technology applied to the kicking area on the inside of the boot.  

The Netherlands World Cup finalist said: “I’m really happy to be beginning this journey with PUMA. I need a boot that I am comfortable with and the PowerCat 1.12 gives me the power and confidence to play at my best. I’m already enjoying working with the brand and they have some big plans ahead. This is just the beginning.’ 

Speaking about the new partnership Roger Harrison, Marketing Director at PUMA UK commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Nigel to the PUMA family. He’s a key part of our football communication alongside some of our other recent signings including Sergio Aguero, Cesc Fabregas and Yaya Toure. He embodies the enjoyment of football on and off the pitch as well as being a very powerful player, and will be a vital asset for PUMA in and beyond 2012.”

As always, we’re trying to get our hands on the boots De Jong wears in order to put them through our usual rigorous playtest – so stay tuned to the site!

For more information, visit www.puma.com/football or @pumafootball on Twitter.

What do you think of the PowerCat 1.12 football boots? Who would you like to see PUMA snap up next? Let us know via the comments section below or on our Twitter and Facebook pages.