Malick Thiaw is officially a Newcastle United player, and there’s still signs of life in our transfer window right now.
The 24-year-old has finally put pen to paper and completed his £34m move from the San Siro to St James’ Park.
And if he’s anything like the last player we signed from AC Milan, a certain midfield maestro, then he’ll do just fine on Tyneside.
The news of Thiaw’s signing will be particularly pleasing to Eddie Howe, as his squad gets the reinforcements it needs right before the start of the season against Aston Villa.
Here’s what the gaffer had to say about our newest signing and what he brings to the team, revealing his delight at landing another long-term target:
> _“We’re really pleased to have Malick on board._
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> _“He’s a player I’ve admired for a long time and somebody who will add real quality to our defensive options.”_
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> _“Malick is still young but brings valuable experience of Champions League football, as well as playing in the Bundesliga and Serie A, which is a major positive for us as we return to Europe this season.”_
Thiaw notably started for AC Milan in the very first game of our 23/24 Champions League campaign, a 0-0 draw in Italy, and with a return to Europe’s premier cup competition on the horizon for the Magpies, Thiaw can be expected to play a vital role in it for us.
It’s becoming quite a common theme amongst new signings just how influential Howe and his team are in convincing players to join.
We’ve seen it already this summer with Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale, but the positive first impression Howe has left on each man upon their arrival at the club will have helped them know right away that they’ve made the right choice.
And Thiaw will hopefully be no different, our new no.12 went into minor detail about his initial interactions with Howe.
“The gaffer showed me his vision and what he wants to do with me as a player and the club itself, which is really exciting.
Still a relative youngster, and with a long future ahead of him, Thiaw can certainly rest assured that Howe will do all he can to make sure the former Schalke centre-back becomes the top-rated defender he’s been touted to be.