Amar Dedic Joins Newcastle United for £29.5m

Amar Dedic has turned his back on Benfica and the Portuguese sun for a reunion on Tyneside, completing a £29.5m move to Newcastle United that underlines just how much faith Matthias Jaissle has in his former RB Salzburg defender.

The 24-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international becomes Newcastle’s sixth signing of a chaotic, stop-start summer and is expected to be thrown straight in at right-back when Liverpool visit St James’ Park on Sunday. For a player who already knows the manager’s demands inside out, the transition is designed to be quick, not gentle.

“Working with Matthias again was a big factor for me,” Dedic said after sealing the deal. “We know each other well; he knows what I can bring to the pitch and I’m really happy to play for him again. It’s a special feeling and a real honour to join Newcastle.”

That relationship has driven the move. Jaissle, appointed earlier this month to replace Eddie Howe, walked into a squad with a glaring issue: a shortage of senior right-backs. With Tino Livramento still sidelined by a calf injury and pre-season repeatedly exposing the lack of depth on that flank, the new head coach moved quickly. He told the club’s hierarchy that Dedic was the answer.

Newcastle agreed. The fee, the profile, the familiarity with the coach’s philosophy – it all aligned. Dedic is comfortable on either flank, capable of stepping across to left-back if required, and already versed in Jaissle’s aggressive, front-foot style from their time together in Austria. For a team trying to reset under a new regime, that tactical shortcut matters.

Sunderland's Move

While Newcastle plugged a hole on the right, Sunderland quietly landed a significant deal on the other side of the Tyne.

At the Stadium of Light, Régis Le Bris is set to welcome Dayann Methalie after Sunderland saw off serious interest from Roma and Newcastle to secure the Toulouse left-back for £25.6m. The announcement is expected on Tuesday, capping a statement piece of business from a club intent on accelerating their rebuild.

Methalie, 20, has signed a five-year contract and arrives with a growing reputation after making 28 Ligue 1 appearances last season. A France Under-21 international, he will challenge Reinildo for the starting role but brings more than just competition. The youngster can operate as a left-sided central defender or as a wing-back, giving Le Bris tactical options as he shapes his side for the new campaign.

Two clubs, one region, both investing heavily in full-backs. Newcastle turn to a trusted lieutenant to stabilise a new era; Sunderland gamble on youth and versatility to push their project forward. The next derby on Wearside and Tyneside suddenly has a very different look waiting in the wide areas.