Newcastle United 2026: Matias Fernandez-Pardo Signed

Newcastle United have completed the signing of forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille for an initial fee of £51.4m. The 21-year-old flew into Tyneside on Monday night to undergo a medical and put pen to paper on a long-term contract with the club.

Fernandez-Pardo, who has already won five caps for the Belgium national team, expressed his pride after holding discussions with head coach Matthias Jaissle. "He really showed how much he wanted me to be here," the new signing stated.

The young forward added that in terms of his career progression, making the switch to Tyneside made complete sense, leaving him with no hesitation whatsoever. Prior to the transfer, Fernandez-Pardo was omitted from Lille's squad for their 2-2 draw against Paris St-Germain and instructed to train away from the senior squad until his future was resolved.

The player has been a long-term target for Newcastle dating back to Eddie Howe's tenure, fitting precisely into the club's targeted age profile. Statistics from last season across Europe's top five leagues highlight his threat, ranking him second for big chances (21), fifth for touches in the opposition box (184) and shots on target (30), and seventh for combined goals and assists (13).

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

"In terms of my own career progression, it made complete sense to come so I didn't hesitate at all."

Matias Fernandez-Pardo

His versatility across the front line further attracted Jaissle as the manager sought to bolster his squad options. The coaching staff expressed confidence that supporters will thoroughly enjoy watching his performances on the pitch.

Source: BBC Sport