Newcastle United have strengthened their defensive options ahead of the Premier League opener against Liverpool by completing the signing of Amar Dedic from Benfica in a deal worth around £30m.
The 24-year-old right-back put pen to paper on a five-year contract after passing a medical on Tyneside, becoming the club's sixth arrival of a busy summer transfer window. The move reunites Dedic with head coach Matthias Jaissle, who previously guided him to an Austrian league title during their time together at Red Bull Salzburg in 2023.
Speaking after the transfer was confirmed on his 24th birthday, Dedic expressed his delight at joining the Magpies. "It's a special feeling and a really big honour for me to join Newcastle United," he said. "I'm really happy to be here and can't wait to start playing for the club and the amazing fans."
The Bosnia and Herzegovina international pointed to his existing relationship with Jaissle as a decisive factor in the switch. "Working with Matthias again was a big factor for me. We know each other well. He knows what I can bring on the pitch and I'm really happy to be playing for him again," Dedic added. "Playing Premier League football at St James' Park is going to be really special. Every game feels like a big occasion, with an amazing atmosphere. I'm really excited to get started."
Newcastle had been searching for a replacement at right-back following the departure of long-serving Kieran Trippier, who left on a free transfer to join Wolves after his contract expired this summer. The situation became more pressing with first-choice option Tino Livramento still sidelined by a calf injury picked up on international duty with England in June.
Jaissle, who took charge of Newcastle earlier this month following Eddie Howe's exit, reportedly identified Dedic as the ideal candidate to address the shortage at right-back soon after stepping into the role. The manager praised his new signing's versatility and physical attributes.
"He's a player who I know really well, having worked with him from a young age in Austria and followed his career since," Jaissle said. "He will bring both defensive and attacking qualities to our squad, which suits the style of football that we want to play. He's athletic, aggressive and technically very good, but also has a lot of potential to develop further."
Dedic is not entirely unfamiliar with St James' Park, having featured for Benfica when they were beaten 3-0 by Newcastle in a Champions League fixture last season. He will hope for a far more favourable outcome this time around, with the possibility of lining up for the home side against Liverpool this weekend.
Despite making just 24 appearances in Portugal's Primeira Liga last season, Dedic's underlying numbers stood out among full-backs, ranking second for carries into the attacking third with 49 and third for progressive carries with 202 out of 325 total carries. Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson described the defender as