Newcastle United have concluded an agreement with French club Monaco to sign midfielder Aladji Bamba for £35.5 million. The Daily Mail reported that the 20-year-old player left for Tyneside on Thursday morning for a medical, in a surprise move. The French U20 international had only one season with the Monaco first team, where he played 12 official matches, but he is considered an exceptional talent, according to the newspaper. The agreement stipulates an initial payment of £30 million, plus £5.5 million in add-ons, in addition to a clause granting Monaco 15% of any future sale. Bamba also played five matches in the Champions League and 18 matches in Ligue 1 last season. This deal came after the transfer of Italian Sandro Tonali to Tottenham last month, which necessitated the search for a second young midfielder after signing Sean Stur (18) from Ajax Amsterdam.

Under its new ownership, Newcastle aims to build a young team capable of competing in the long term, benefiting from its increasing financial resources.

Bamba is considered one of the most prominent young talents in Ligue 1, and despite his limited appearances with the Monaco first team, he is expected to have a greater opportunity for development under the guidance of Newcastle's coach. The deal points to the club's strategy of signing young players who can be resold in the future at a higher value, as done with the percentage clause. The question remains about Bamba's ability to adapt to the speed and physicality of the English Premier League, especially since he has only played 12 official matches in his professional career. This transfer could be an opportunity for him to prove his worth, or perhaps he will need a longer adaptation period.