Newcastle Signs Bosnian Defender Dedic from Benfica for £29.5m
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Newcastle United have completed the signing of 24-year-old Bosnian international defender Amar Dedic from Portuguese champions Benfica for £29.5 million (approximately HK$290 million). Dedic has signed a five-year contract and will wear the number 37 shirt for the Magpies. This transfer marks Newcastle's sixth signing of the summer transfer window as the club continues its ambitious squad rebuild under head coach Matthias Jaissle.
Key Points
- Dedic completed his medical and signed a five-year deal with Newcastle on Monday, officially becoming the club's sixth summer arrival
- The 24-year-old Bosnian international previously played 95 matches for Red Bull Salzburg before stints at Marseille and Benfica
- Dedic will wear the number 37 shirt at St James' Park, following in the footsteps of other squad players who have donned that number
- He performed impressively against Newcastle during last season's UEFA Champions League group stage while at Benfica
- The defender was part of Bosnia and Herzegovina's squad at the 2022/2023 World Cup qualifying campaign, establishing himself as a regular international
Why It Matters
Dedic's arrival represents Newcastle's continued investment in young, versatile defenders following their takeover by a Saudi-led consortium. His ability to play both left-back and right-back provides tactical flexibility, while his previous experience facing Newcastle in the Champions League suggests he understands the Premier League's physical demands. The reunion with Jaissle, who coached him at Salzburg and Liefering, indicates the club's strategy of targeting players with proven compatibility to their system.
Dedic's arrival represents Newcastle's continued investment in young, versatile defenders following their takeover by a Saudi-led consortium. His ability to play both left-back and right-back provides tactical flexibility, while his previous experience facing Newcastle in the Champions League suggests he understands the Premier League's physical demands. The reunion with Jaissle, who coached him at Salzburg and Liefering, indicates the club's strategy of targeting players with proven compatibility to their system.