Newcastle sign Belgium forward Fernandez-Pardo from Lille

Newcastle United has secured the services of forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille in a deal worth £51.4 million. The 21-year-old Belgium international made his way to Tyneside on Monday to undergo a medical and sign a long-term contract. Fernandez-Pardo expressed his pride at joining a prestigious club, noting that head coach Matthias Jaissle demonstrated his desire to bring him to Newcastle.

The player emphasized that the opportunity aligned perfectly with his career progression and he had no hesitation in accepting the move. Fernandez-Pardo highlighted his admiration for the club, the stadium and its enthusiastic fan base, stating that he is eager to contribute to the team's development. He noted that he is still young and hungry, which motivated him to make the move.

The forward was omitted from Lille's starting lineup for their recent match against Paris St-Germain and was instructed to train separately from the main team until his future was clarified. Newcastle has been pursuing Fernandez-Pardo for some time, with former manager Eddie Howe expressing interest in signing him. The player's statistics across Europe's top leagues demonstrate his proficiency, ranking second in big chances, fifth in shots on target, and seventh in goals and assists combined among players aged 21 and under.

Jaissle praised Fernandez-Pardo's technical abilities, noting his scoring and assisting capabilities, courage, and ability to take on opponents. The coach is confident that Newcastle supporters will be delighted with the new signing and is looking forward to seeing the player's continued growth within the team.