Signing Confirmed: JACOB MURPHY
Lifelong Newcastle United fan Jacob Murphy made his dreams come true today after signing what is believed to be a five year deal.
The England U21 International joins the Magpies from Norwich after the club finalised his £12m transfer to the North East.
Murphy had flown to Germany just a couple of days ago, casting doubt on the progress made on the well rumoured deal. But after Norwich had finally agreed to a deal they felt was acceptable the player joined up with his new teammates in Ireland to complete his medical and other formalities before singing for the club he supported as a boy.
With both his parents coming from the North East and many of his family and friends still living in the area he will certainly feel at home in Newcastle despite playing for Norwich from his early teens.
Both he and his twin brother, who remains with Norwich, were of course pictured in Newcastle shirts as kids, something the club played on when announcing the deal on Twitter.
For Murphy, now 22, the move is a big one and the player said on signing his contract “It was a childhood dream to play for Newcastle and the opportunity is now here, I can’t wait to get started”.
Rafa spoke of his desire to improve the player further and will certainly be looking to the young winger to make an instant impact in the first team, no doubt playing on the opposite flank to Ritchie.
Focus will now turn to the anticipated arrival of ex-Sunderland full-back Manquillo, a signing that is likely to be confirmed tomorrow before starting the work to bring in the new Goalkeeper and Striker that are rumoured to be his big priorities this summer.
With Newcastle’s NET spending now at around £17m, and with some players bound to be moved on to free up both transfer cash and wages, we have to hope there is still some big business to be done for United before the first game of the season.