Newcastle United sign Amar Dedic from Benfica in £30m deal
Newcastle United have completed the signing of defender Amar Dedic from Benfica for approximately £30m. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international has agreed to a five-year contract after undergoing a medical examination in Tyneside on Monday. The announcement of his transfer was made on Tuesday, which coincided with his 24th birthday.
Dedic will reunite with manager Matthias Jaissle at Newcastle. The pair previously worked together at Red Bull Salzburg, where they secured the Austrian title in 2023. Dedic expressed his enthusiasm for the move, stating it was a special feeling and a significant honour to join the club. He also highlighted his eagerness to start playing for the team and its supporters, noting that working with Jaissle again was a major factor in his decision.
Jaissle also shared his anticipation for working with Dedic once more, describing him as a player he knows well from their time in Austria. The manager noted Dedic’s defensive and attacking qualities, which he believes align with Newcastle‘s desired style of play. Jaissle further described Dedic as athletic, aggressive, and technically proficient, with considerable potential for further development.
Dedic’s Role and Impact
The signing of Dedic addresses Newcastle‘s need for a new right-back following the departure of Kieran Trippier, who moved to Wolves on a free transfer after his contract expired earlier in the summer. Dedic could potentially feature in Newcastle‘s opening match of the season against Liverpool at home on Sunday. This is due to Tino Livramento still recovering from a calf injury sustained while on international duty with England in June.
Dedic has previous experience playing at St James’ Park, having been part of the Benfica squad that faced a 3-0 defeat against Newcastle in the Champions League last season. He will be hoping for a more positive outcome if he plays against Liverpool. This marks Dedic’s first experience in the Premier League, and like Newcastle‘s other recent acquisitions, he will need time to adjust to the league’s intensity and physicality.
Newcastle‘s sporting director, Ross Wilson, has commented on Dedic’s strong desire to prove himself at the club. Given Dedic’s familiarity with Jaissle’s expectations for full-backs, it is considered likely that the head coach will not hesitate to include him in the squad for the upcoming weekend’s fixture, even after a limited number of training sessions with his new teammates.
Dedic’s physical capabilities are highlighted by his performance statistics from his time in Portugal’s Primeira Liga last season. Despite making only 24 appearances, he ranked second among full-backs for carries into the attacking third, with 49. He also ranked third for progressive carries, with 202, and total carries, with 325. His versatility to provide cover at left-back is also considered a valuable asset for the squad.
Summer Transfers and Team Rebuilding
Dedic’s arrival makes him Newcastle‘s sixth signing of the summer transfer window. He is also one of the older signings, and only the second player over the age of 20 to join the club this summer, alongside goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek. This transfer marks the first signing of the Matthias Jaissle era at Newcastle, following his appointment as manager.
The club is currently in a rebuilding phase, having seen the departure of several key players, including Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Anthony Gordon. The transfer window is set to close on 1 September, indicating that Newcastle may still seek further reinforcements for their squad.
Dedic also represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup, where his team reached the last-32 before being eliminated by the United States.
Source: bbc.co.uk