Newcastle United have completed the signing of defender Lewis Hall from Chelsea.
The 18-year-old has joined on loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season. The fee will be £28million plus £7million in add-ons.
Hall, a boyhood Newcastle fan, will wear the No 20 shirt at his new club.
“I’m very proud,” the England youth international said. “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.”
Chelsea respect Hall but the Englishman’s desire to leave and their existing left-back depth — in the form of Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, Ian Maatsen, Zak Sturge and Ishe Samuels-Smith — means it is a deal that suits all parties. The west London side will also retain a meaningful sell-on clause.
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Why Hall’s move to Newcastle from Chelsea makes sense for all parties
By The Athletic’s Newcastle United reporter Jacob Whitehead.
It means that the initial £28m transfer fee does not count against FFP regulations until the loan is made permanent ahead of the 2024-25 season.
The only cost to Newcastle is the portion of Hall’s wages which they have taken on from Chelsea — which, owing to the intentions of the deal, is likely to be virtually the entire amount. With Hall still only 18 years old, this is unlikely to be a bank-breaking number.
Both teams view this as a permanent transfer — the loan is purely a device to delay the official registration of the transfer for FFP purposes.
Newcastle get the squad depth they need, as well as a talented and versatile player who has been tipped for full England honours.
GO DEEPER
Lewis Hall: why a loan with obligation to buy makes sense for all parties
(Photo: Getty Images)
