Newcastle sign Lille forward Fernandez-Pardo

Newcastle United has signed 21-year-old forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille for a reported £51 million (US$69 million), the club announced on Tuesday. The Belgian player joined Lille in 2024 from Genk and helped the French side finish third in Ligue 1 last season. Fernandez-Pardo also represented Belgium at the recent World Cup tournament.

The young forward agreed to a long-term contract with Newcastle, who are currently in the process of rebuilding their squad following the recent departures of Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes, and Sandro Tonali. During a recent match against Paris St-Germain, Fernandez-Pardo missed the game and was instructed to train separately from the rest of the squad while his future with the team was being clarified.

Fernandez-Pardo expressed his excitement about joining Newcastle, describing the club's atmosphere as fantastic and acknowledging the team's ambitious nature. The young player, who still has much to learn and prove, stated that he is eager to contribute to the club's progress and make a significant impact.

Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle commended Fernandez-Pardo's technical skills, explosiveness, courage, and ability to take on opponents. The manager is confident that the fans will greatly enjoy watching the young forward in action on the big stage.