Newcastle United-linked left-back seals £8.5m transfer after agreeing four-year contract

Newcastle United-linked left-back Mitchel Bakker has completed a £8.5million switch to Italian outfit Atalanta BC.

The Netherlands international was on the Magpies’ radar last year before Matt Targett was brought in from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

Bakker has been tentatively linked with United since then amid suggestions he was under consideration this summer.

However, that speculation can now be dismissed after Atalanta announced his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen on a four-year deal.

A club statement read: “Atalanta BC announces that it has definitively acquired the registration rights of the player Mitchel Bakker from Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

“Left-footed Dutch winger born in 2000, he grew up at the Ajax football school with which he made his first team debut at the age of 18 in the national cup.

“In the summer of 2019 he moved to Paris Saint Germain: in France he played two seasons totaling 45 appearances overall, including 10 matches in the Champions League all in the 2020/21 edition, winning a championship, two French cups, a League cup and a Super Cup.

“Then, from 2021 until last season, the experience in Germany at Bayer Leverkusen with 70 games under his belt, enhanced by 5 goals and 7 assists. With the Bayer shirt he plays both in the Champions League and in two editions of the Europa League. And precisely on the occasion of his first participation in 2021/22, he crosses the Nerazzurri colors in the round of 16.

“He also wore the Orange jersey of the Dutch youth national teams from Under 15 to Under 21, later joining the senior national team.

“Atalanta BC extends a warm welcome to Mitchel, wishing him the best satisfaction – personal and as a team – in the Nerazzurri shirt.”

Bakker becomes Atalanta’s second signing in as many days following the arrival of former Arsenal defender Sead Kolaslnac from Marseille.