Newcastle United have officially signed Germany international Malick Thiaw from Serie A side AC Milan in a £34.6 million deal. The 24-year-old centre-back joins on a long-term contract to strengthen Eddie Howe’s defence ahead of the UEFA Champions League campaign.
Thiaw is Howe’s fourth summer signing, after Anthony Elanga, Aaron Ramsdale, and Antonito Cordero. Fabrizio Romano reported the move as a four-year deal, with an initial £31.13 million fee plus £3.46 million in add-ons.
Thiaw Credits Eddie Howe’s Vision for Move
In his first interview as a Newcastle player, Thiaw said Eddie Howe’s vision convinced him to join. “I’m really excited to join this massive club,” Thiaw told Newcastle United. “I can’t wait to start training and to get to know my new teammates and all the staff. The gaffer showed me his vision and what he wants to do with me as a player and the club itself. It’s really exciting. I think Newcastle speaks for itself. It’s a great club, a big club with passionate fans who I can’t wait to see at St. James’ Park.”
Eddie Howe praised the signing, highlighting Thiaw’s experience in European competitions. “We’re really pleased to have Malick on board. He’s a player I’ve admired for a long time and someone who will add real quality to our defensive options. Malick is still young but brings valuable Champions League experience. He has also played in the Bundesliga and Serie A, which is a major positive for us as we return to Europe this season.”
Champions League Return Increases Importance of Signing
Thiaw made 85 appearances for AC Milan after joining from Schalke in 2022, scoring once. While his main position is centre-back, he has also played at right-back and defensive midfield earlier in his career.
The Magpies now have strong defensive depth, with Thiaw joining Sven Botman, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, and Jamal Lascelles. His addition could be vital with Newcastle facing eight Champions League league-phase matches this season. This is especially important given Botman and Lascelles’ recent injury problems.
Uncertainty remains over Alexander Isak’s future. The Athletic reported that the Sweden international is unwilling to play for Newcastle again. Liverpool are strongly linked with the striker after selling Darwin Nunez to Al-Hilal earlier this window.
Stay tuned for all the latest Sports News, follow SportsNewsTime on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram