Amar Dedic Joins Newcastle United from Benfica
Amar Dedic has turned his back on Benfica and the Lisbon sun for Tyneside drizzle and the pull of a familiar voice on the touchline.
Newcastle have completed the £29.5m signing of the Bosnia and Herzegovina international, who becomes their sixth arrival in what has already been a fraught, stop‑start summer. At 24, he is not coming to wait his turn. Barring a late twist, he is expected to walk straight into the starting XI at right-back when Liverpool visit St James’ Park on Sunday.
The key to the deal sat in the dugout. Matthias Jaissle, newly installed and already reshaping the squad in his image, worked with Dedic at RB Salzburg and wasted little time pushing for a reunion once he replaced Eddie Howe earlier this month.
“Working with Matthias again was a big factor for me,” Dedic said after signing. “We know each other well; he knows what I can bring to the pitch and I’m really happy to play for him again. It’s a special feeling and a real honour to join Newcastle.”
Newcastle’s need down the right has been obvious all summer. Tino Livramento’s calf injury has stripped them of their only established option in the role, and pre-season exposed just how thin they were in that area. Jaissle’s message to the hierarchy was simple: Dedic can fix it.
The move also fits neatly with the German’s blueprint. Dedic, comfortable on either flank, understands Jaissle’s pressing triggers, his positional demands, the aggressive, front‑foot defending he wants from full-backs. That familiarity shortens the bedding‑in period at a time when Newcastle cannot afford a slow start.
Sunderland's New Signing
While Newcastle shore up one side of their back line, their neighbours up the road have quietly won a battle of their own.
Sunderland are poised to unveil Dayann Methalie on Tuesday after seeing off serious interest from Roma and, intriguingly, Newcastle themselves. The 20-year-old Toulouse defender will cost £25.6m, a statement fee for a club intent on accelerating their rebuild under Régis Le Bris.
Methalie, a France Under-21 international, made 28 Ligue 1 appearances last season and arrives with the profile of a modern, flexible defender. He will compete with Reinildo for the left-back spot but offers much more than simple cover. Comfortable as a left-sided centre-back or operating as a wing-back, he hands Le Bris tactical options and genuine depth on the flank.
He has signed a five-year contract at the Stadium of Light, a long-term bet on potential and resale value, but also on immediate impact in a side looking upwards rather than over its shoulder.
Two clubs, one region, and two expensive full-backs heading in opposite directions. The next derby will say plenty about who backed the right project.
