Newcastle United transfer becomes official — new signing already confirmed by Dan Ashworth

Newcastle United have officially completed the signing of Yankuba Minteh from Danish side Odense Boldklub on a long-term contract.

Minteh’s arrival was announced by the Magpies on June 12, though the reported £6million transfer couldn’t be officially completed until July 1 when the international transfer market opened.

With today being the first day of the month, the move has been formally finalised with the 18-year-old Gambian winger spending the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Dutch champions Feyenoord.

“We are very pleased to be bringing a player with Yankuba’s high potential to Newcastle United,” said Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth.

“He has done extremely well in his first full season in Denmark, and he has a promising career ahead of him. We look forward to working with him in this exciting phase of his development, and we’re excited to see how he performs at Feyenoord, a club that also has a strong development record of its own.

“As well as supporting the first team with players for the here and now, we have a clear philosophy to invest in emerging talent and we want to provide a player pathway that will help to build and sustain long-term success.”

Minteh, whose manager at OB Andreas Alm handed Alexander Isak his debut at AIK in 2016, has enjoyed an impressive breakthrough into senior football having scored four goals and provided six assists in 22-23.

Odense sporting director Bjorn Wesstrom revealed several clubs had enquired about Minteh before opting to join Newcastle.

Wesstrom said: “I have been in dialogue with a number of top clubs, but we don’t know how it will end. There are always many rumours about a player who has the stats he has, and that is positive. We must have recruited him well.”

Minteh, though, revealed earlier this year his eagerness to join Newcastle.

“Of course, I want to go to Newcastle,” Minteh said. “It’s a big club in the Premier League and they’re doing something good. They are fighting for a place in the Champions League. I am ready to take the next step, and it will only be good for me.”

While Newcastle compete in the Champions League next season, Minteh could too feature in the competition. Feyenoord are set to feature in Pot 1 after winning the Eredivisie. United, meanwhile, will be in Pot 4.