Amar Dedic Joins Newcastle United for £29.5m

Amar Dedic has turned his back on Benfica and the Lisbon sun for a reunion on Tyneside, completing a £29.5m move to Newcastle United after the pull of Matthias Jaissle proved too strong to resist.

The 24-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international becomes Newcastle’s sixth signing of a chaotic, reshaping summer and is expected to be thrown straight in at right-back when Liverpool visit St James’ Park on Sunday.

“Working with Matthias again was a big factor for me,” Dedic said, reflecting on their time together at RB Salzburg. “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.”

Jaissle, appointed earlier this month to replace Eddie Howe, wasted little time identifying a glaring weakness. With Tino Livramento still sidelined by a calf injury, Newcastle’s shortage of senior right-backs was brutally exposed in pre-season. The new head coach pushed hard for Dedic, convinced the defender could plug the gap and immediately translate his ideas onto the pitch.

That familiarity matters. Dedic not only knows Jaissle’s pressing demands and positional discipline, he can also operate on the opposite flank. Comfortable at left-back as well as on the right, he offers tactical flexibility in a squad that has been stretched and reshaped in equal measure over the past few weeks.

While Newcastle moved to solve one problem area, their rivals up the road made a statement of their own.

Sunderland win race for Methalie

Sunderland are poised to confirm the arrival of Dayann Methalie on Tuesday, having beaten off interest from Roma and Newcastle to land the highly rated Toulouse left-back in a £25.6m deal.

The 20-year-old France Under-21 international made 28 Ligue 1 appearances last season and will go straight into the fight for a starting place under Régis Le Bris, challenging Reinildo for the left side of defence at the Stadium of Light.

Methalie has signed a five-year contract and brings more than just cover at full-back. He can slot in as a left-sided central defender or operate as a wing-back, giving Le Bris options as Sunderland look to refine their structure and push their project on.

Two clubs, two defenders, two big cheques written. The Tyne–Wear rivalry now has fresh fuel on the flanks before a ball has even been kicked.