‘You’re crazy!’ - Mehrdad Ghodoussi denies £25m error at Newcastle United
Newcastle United desperately needed to sign a striker in their first transfer window under PIF ownership.
Former Newcastle United co-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi has defended the decision to buy Chris Wood for £25million.
Four years ago, the Magpies were riding the crest of a post-takeover wave despite a dire league position. Newcastle sat 19th but the January transfer window gave PIF their first chance to bolster the first-team ranks.
Without a sporting director or CEO in place, Ghodoussi, who owned 10 per cent of the club alongside his wife, Amanda Staveley, played a hands-on role in attracting fresh talent. Five signings arrived, with Kieran Trippier being joined by Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn and Matt Targett.
Chris Wood time at Newcastle United
At the time, Wood’s arrival was the only one of the five additions that had a panic element. Newcastle were desperate for a striker so triggered Burnley’s hefty £25million release clause.
While he failed to prove a prolific goalscorer at St James' Park, Wood joining weakened a direct relegation rival. Newcastle ultimately stayed up with ease as the Clarets finished in the bottom three.
Wood scored just five goals in 39 games before being sold to Nottingham Forest for £15million. The fee recouped allowed for the Magpies to view the saga somewhat as a necessary act rather than a complete transfer blunder.
Mehrdad Ghodoussi reflects on Chris Wood sale
Speaking to the World Sports Summit, Ghodoussi, albeit butchering a few of the facts, stood by the decision to sign Wood. He said: “Looking back on it, I don’t think we made any mistakes with the players that we bought. You know, we even bought a player called Chris Wood.
“At the time we paid £25million for him and everyone was like ‘You’re crazy, what are you doing?’ It was the January window, we didn’t have a proper striker and he was at Burnley. We knew that if we took him out, Burnley were obviously going to be at risk of relegation.
“At that point, we were sitting 18th in the league. We ended up buying Chris Wood, he scored three or four goals, that was the differentiator in us staying up and Burnley got relegated.”