Newcastle United have signed teenage defender Lewis Hall on season-long loan from Chelsea that will become permanent next summer.
A fee of £28 million – plus a potential £7 million in add-ons – will be activated at the end of the season for the 18-year-old full-back, who becomes the Magpies' fifth signing of the current transfer window.
Hall, who made 12 senior appearances for Chelsea, made his Premier League debut for the Blues in a 1-0 defeat against Newcastle at St James' Park last November.
He was named Chelsea's Academy Player of the Year for the 2022/23 season – just two years after Tino Livramento, another Newcastle summer signing, picked up the same award – and only agreed a new six-year contract to stay at Stamford Bridge earlier in August.
“I'm very proud,” said Hall on the club's website. “Me and my family are Newcastle fans, and for me and my brother growing up, it was drilled into us that we were Newcastle. It's a big club and I can't wait to get started.
“I got a lot of experience last year in some big fixtures and I was really proud of the way I progressed as a player and a person. To now be here at Newcastle, the club that I've supported since I was a kid, I'm honoured and very proud to wear this shirt.
“It's very exciting. When you look back on last season and the way the team performed – not just the results, but the performances the team were putting in – it was amazing.
“There's so many talented players and we've got the Champions League now as well so there's many different competitions that I know the team will be wanting to do well in, and hopefully get a trophy or two as well.”
Hall joins fellow defender Livramento – signed from Southampton – on Tyneside, along with AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali, winger Harvey Barnes from Leicester City and teenage forward Yankuba Minteh, who joined from Danish side Odense Boldklub but was immediately loaned out to Feyenoord.
“I'm delighted to welcome Lewis to Newcastle United,” said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.
“He is a player we have tracked closely, as have a number of clubs, so it's very pleasing to secure him and to add a player of his quality, versatility and high potential to our squad.
“I'd like to thank everyone involved for their tireless work to bring in the players we have.
“A lot of time, effort and resource goes into a transfer window, but we have a real togetherness at all levels here and I appreciate that teamwork and support.”
Howe's stated aim ahead of the new season – that sees Newcastle embark on their first Champions League campaign for 20 years – was to have cover for every position and the former Bournemouth coach suggested last week that Hall would be the club's final move in the transfer market this summer.
Hall will provide competition for first-choice left-back Dan Burn while Howe also has former Aston Villa full-back Matt Targett in that position. It also frees up 1.98 metres-tall Burn to play at centre-half if required.
Captain and right-back Kieran Trippier now has Livramento as cover, while Barnes has been kept out the starting XI by Anthony Gordon for their opening two games.
Tonali has made an immediate impact alongside Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes in midfield, keeping last season's regular starter Sean Longstaff out of the team.
Newcastle, who finished fourth last season, started the new campaign with a 5-1 home demolition of Aston Villa but were beaten 1-0 by treble-winners Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Man City 1 Newcastle 0: Player ratings
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MANCHESTER CITY PLAYER RATINGS: Ederson - 6. Another quiet game in goal for Ederson, who had to make just the one save for the second consecutive game. Getty -
Kyle Walker - 7. Lost his balance when he was played in behind the Newcastle backline by Grealish in the first half. Yet his clever positioning caused problems for Burn in the first half. Getty -
Ruben Dias - 7. On for his first game of the season, Dias wasn’t ruffled by Newcastle’s tricky attackers. He made a well-timed challenge to stop Gordon’s run into the home side’s penalty area. Getty -
Josko Gvardiol - 8. Excellent work to force Wilson wide when the striker pounced on an erratic pass from Rodri in the 68th minute. Looked very assured alongside Dias at the heart of the Manchester City defence. AFP -
Manuel Akanji - 7. Hit an effort high and wide when he tried to test Pope from range in the first half. Did well to cut out Gordon’s dangerous cross in the 17th minute. Getty -
Mateo Kovacic - 6. An effective performance from the Croatian in the City midfield. Kept things simple. Getty -
Rodri - 7. Solid at the base of City’s midfield, although his erratic backpass almost gave the away side a chance to draw level in the 68th minute. Getty -
Jack Grealish - 5. An unproductive performance against Trippier on the left side of City's attack. The winger repeatedly saw his efforts blocked by his England teammate, and he had to make-do with winning cheap fouls. Getty -
Phil Foden - 9. Playing in the Kevin De Bruyne role, Foden was at the heart of everything positive Pep Guardiola’s side did in the final third. Deservedly grabbed the assist for the winning goal. Getty -
Julian Alvarez - 8. Was having a quiet game until he popped up to score the winner with a well-struck effort into the top corner. Combined well with Haaland and Foden in attack. Getty -
Erling Haaland - 5. A rare frustrating night for the usually prolific Norwegian. Failed to sort out his feet when Foden set him up with a brilliant pass in the 12th minute. Got very close to making it two in the 41st minute, but his effort trickled just wide of the far post. Getty -
NEWCASTLE PLAYER RATINGS: Nick Pope - 6. Got a hand to Alvarez’s opener, but it wasn’t enough to stop the effort from flying into the net. Made a good save with a leg to deny Haaland in the 65th minute. Getty -
Kieran Trippier - 7. Brilliant block to stop Grealish from testing Pope early in the game. Played several dangerous crosses from which his teammates failed to take advantage. PA -
Sven Botman - 6. Made a good interception to stop Haaland from running through on goal in the 13th minute. Provided a good block to deflect Haaland’s shot away from goal in the second half. AFP -
Fabian Schar - 7 Combined well with Botman to deal with the threat of Haaland. Tremendous last-ditch interception to stop Haaland from testing Pope on the hour mark. Reuters -
Dan Burn - 5. A testing game for the tall Englishman as he struggled to deal with the threat of Foden and Walker on the right side of the Citizen’s attack. Getty -
Joelinton - 6. Another typical Joelinton performance that involved a lot of hard work, but the Brazilian had very little impact in the final third. Forced off with an injury early in the second half. Getty -
Sandro Tonali - 5. A below-par performance from Tonali at the base of Newcastle’s midfield. The new signing from AC Milan struggled with the home side’s high press. Getty -
Bruno Guimaraes - 5. Slightly overhit a pass when he tried to play Tonali behind City's backline. Completely fluffed his lines when he had a chance to test Ederson in the 65th minute. Getty -
Anthony Gordon - 6. Teased the City backline with a sweeping low cross that had to be deflected wide by Akanji in the 17th minute. Failed to bring the ball under his control when Trippier’s cross found him at the back post on the stroke of half-time. Getty -
Miguel Almiron - 4. A frustrating performance from the Paraguayan whose final pass left a lot to be desired on the day. Clever dummy to set up Joelinton with a chance in the 20th minute. EPA -
Alexander Isak - 6. Cut an isolated figure up top for most of his match due to a lack of support from his teammates. Tried to drop deep to facilitate play but was mostly crowded out by City defenders. Reuters -
SUBS: Harvey Barnes (Gordon, 55) - 6. Came on and added something different to Newcastle's largely subdued attack. Had the away side’s first shot on target with a weak effort in the 69th minute. Getty -
Sean Longstaff (Joelinton, 55) - 5. Brought on in place of the injured Joelinton, the Englishman struggled to get going. Failed to make an impact in the final third. EPA -
Callum Wilson (Isak, 66) - 5. Failed to beat Gvardiol when he had the chance to run through on goal in the 68th minute. Getty -
Elliot Anderson. (Tonali, 66) - 6. Overhit a cross when he had the chance to pick out a black and white shirt in the penalty area. Tracked back well to deflect a Foden effort wide in the 88th minute. Getty -
Tino Livramento (Almiron, 86) - N/A. Came on too late to make an impact. Getty
