 After UEFA Euro 2008, De Zeeuw was linked with a move to AFC Ajax where former Netherlands manager Marco van Basten had taken over, but a move failed to materialise.Partly because of his public soliciting for a transfer he saw himself out of the starting line-up at the beginning of the 2008–09 season in the opening match against NAC Breda.The player was almost transferred to Hamburger SV on the last day of the transfer period after an accord on the transfer fee was reached between the two clubs.