Newcastle United have officially confirmed the signing of towering German defender Nick Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart on a club record deal.
After months of rejection and the feeling that a striker may not arrive, the Magpies have finally got a deal over the line.
And it is a big one, with Nick Woltemade joining Newcastle United for a club record fee of £69million. Word spread on Thursday evening that a deal was close to completion for the 23-year-old, and soon after, the deal was as good as done.
Woltemade joins Newcastle at an ideal time, with Champions League football on the horizon and the need for the striker bigger than ever, with Alexander Isak still refusing to play.
There was hope that Waltemade would be available to play against Leeds United on Saturday. But Eddie Howe confirmed that he will not be registered in time.
With Woltemade officially a Newcastle player, the German star has shared his first words upon signing.
- Who is Nick Woltemade? The ‘two-metre Messi-Musiala’ Newcastle United are breaking transfer record to sign
Nick Woltemade’s first words as a Newcastle United player
Woltemade was announced on social media as well as newcastleunited.com, where the striker has shared why the move to Tyneside made so much sense.
“I’m really happy to be at this amazing club. From the first contact, I felt like the club really wanted me and had big plans for me.
“It’s a big step in my life to leave Germany but everybody has welcomed me so well and it already feels like family. I have a really good feeling from speaking to the head coach that this is the right place for me to find my best level.
“I know the stadium from watching games on television – it looks amazing and I know the atmosphere is crazy. I’m really excited to play and start scoring goals here.”
- READ MORE – Nick Woltemade’s salary at Newcastle United revealed as Eddie Howe agrees to quadruple it
How Nick Woltemade performed last season amid Newcastle United move
Woltemade has a lot to live up to on Tyneside, given his price tag. The 23-year-old is still a junior in his career, but has been exposed to some very big games at a young age.
The German star scored in the DFB Pokal final earlier this year, helping Stuttgart win the prestigious trophy.
- READ MORE – Bundesliga expert says who is better out of Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade and Man United’s Benjamin Sesko
Elsewhere, Woltemade was the top scorer in the Under-21 European Championships this summer, and only lost out on winning the tournament to an England squad which included Newcastle star Tino Livramento.
There is no doubt the transfer fee is high, but Woltemade scored just one fewer goal than Benjamin Sesko in the Bundesliga last season, so the fee makes sense based on that.
Fans will be hoping that Woltemade can hit the ground running on Tyneside; he just needs the backing from the fans when his debut comes.
The post 'Big step': Nick Woltemade shares how Newcastle United convinced him to complete club record move upon signing appeared first on Geordie Boot Boys.