Newcastle United finalise double 'club-record' transfers as five-year deal agreed

The Magpies were forced to sell players by June 30 in order to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) otherwise risk punishment and a potential points deduction.

And United certainly left it to the last minute with the sales of Yankuba Minteh to Brighton & Hove Albion and Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest for a combined £68million confirmed at 12:30am on Monday morning.

It is set to ensure key assets such as Anthony Gordon - a target for Liverpool - Alexander Isak - who was the subject of an enquiry from Chelsea last week - and Bruno Guimaraes - whose £100million release clause expired last Monday - will stay put.

Yankuba Minteh joins Brighton

Minteh’s £33m move to Brighton comes just 12 months after Newcastle paid £7m to sign the 19-year-old from Danish side Odense Boldklub. He leaves having never kicked a ball in black and white after spending last season on loan at Feyenoord.

“Yankuba is a young talent that has attracted a lot of interest, so we’re delighted to welcome him to the club,” said Brighton technical director David Weir after the South Coast club beat the likes of Everton and Lyon to his signature.

"He is an exciting attacking player with incredible speed. He had a very impressive campaign with Feyenoord, gaining experience in both the Champions League and Europa League. Now we will give him the time and support he needs to ensure that he settles in.”

Newcastle gain joint club-record fee for Elliot Anderson

While there was a reluctance to lose Minteh, there was an even greater reluctance to lose Anderson, who had been on the books at his boyhood club since the age of eight.

The 21-year-old made 55 appearances for Newcastle and was expected to make many more, however, in a PSR world, selling an academy player goes down as “pure profit”.

He leaves Newcastle without scoring a competitive first-team goal, although fittingly had a goal controversially ruled out against Forest at the City Ground back last year.

The £35m fee United have received for the England and Scotland youth international equals the club-record sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool 13-and-a-half-years ago. Anderson has penned a five-year contract.

“We are all delighted to welcome Elliot to Nottingham Forest and pleased that he has chosen to continue to develop his talent with us in the Premier League,” said Forest chief football officer Ross Wilson.

"We are sure he will thrive in a Forest shirt, as other players in his age profile have done. As soon as the opportunity arose for him to potentially join, it was something we were all excited to make happen.”

Nottingham Forest goalkeeper heads to Tyneside

In the opposite direction, Forest goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos has joined Newcastle for an undisclosed fee. He replaces Loris Karius after his contract expired on June 30.

The 30-year-old has significant European and international experience, making 41 career appearances in the Champions League and amassing 42 senior international caps for Greece.

Vlachodimos represented this Stuttgart - his place of birth - before moving on to Panathinaikos and Benfica. He joined Forest last summer and made five Premier League appearances.

Following his arrival, Vlachodimos said: “I am very happy to be joining Newcastle United. It’s an honour for me to be part of this huge club, with excellent players and a great coach. I can’t wait to get started!”

Howe added: “Odysseas is very experienced at elite European and international level and he joins a strong group of senior goalkeepers.

“That strength in depth is valuable and means we go into the new season with strong competition in a key area.”

Lewis Hall permanent deal announced

Newcastle have also announced the permanent arrival of Lewis Hall for an initial £28million from Chelsea, a club record fee paid for a teenager.

The 19-year-old spent last season on loan. He made 22 appearances and scored two goals, and triggered the performance-related criteria to make the switch permanent.

Hall said: "I am extremely proud to be able to build on last season and continue my journey at Newcastle United. The fans, the manager and his staff, my teammates and everyone at the club have made me feel so welcome that I want to repay the faith they've shown in me.

"When you pull on the black and white shirt, there is no feeling like it and playing in front of the best supporters in the country is extra special for me being a Toon fan.

"I gained a lot of experience last season, and with the squad we have, we'll be looking to push on even further this season. I can't wait to get started."

Howe added: "Lewis was a very good addition to our squad last season and we have been delighted with his progress and his contribution to the team.

"I'm very pleased to continue working with him. As well as being a talented player, he has a great attitude towards the game and to his own development and I'm excited for this next part of his journey in a Newcastle United shirt."

John Ruddy joins on a free transfer

Newcastle have also signed goalkeeper John Ruddy following the expiry of his contract at Birmingham City. The 37-year-old has agreed a one-year deal at St. James' Park.

Ruddy brings a wealth of experience after clocking up 551 appearances across 13 clubs - including spells in the Premier League with Everton, Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ruddy said: "This is a massive club and it's a massive opportunity, so I'm really excited to get started.

"It was an opportunity I couldn't turn down. It's a huge, huge club which is only going one way and to be a part of that, however big or small, is going to be very pleasing and very exciting.

Howe, added: "I'm pleased to welcome John to Newcastle United. He has a huge amount of experience and adds a level of support and competition that we need.

"As well as his abilities on the pitch, he has a strong mentality and he is a leader, which will only benefit the group. I'm looking forward to him joining us as we prepare for the season ahead."

Ruddy is Newcastle’s fourth summer signing after Lloyd Kelly, who has joined on a free transfer from AFC Bournemouth, Vlachodimos and Hall.