The 23-year-old joins from Ajax for a fee that is officially undisclosed but is believed to be in the region of £6.5 million. He will wear the number eight shirt recently vacated by Danny Guthrie.
Anita will go straight into the squad for the Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday having undergone a full pre-season campaign with the Eredivisie Champions, and he even kicked off the defence of their title last week in the 2-2 draw with AZ Alkmaar.
Vurnon is a product of the famous Ajax academy and has spent 13 years at the Amsterdam club. He has become an integral part of the current Ajax team and his, now former, manager wasn’t overly happy about losing him. However he does leave with the blessing of Frank de Boer who insists his former midfielder will be a big hit for Newcastle United.
“Of course he goes to Newcastle United with my best wishes,” de Boer told The Chronicle. “He is one of the hardest working young players I have ever seen. He deserves a move to a club like Newcastle United.”
“For me he gave everything during his time here. He never complained once to me about having to drop back into another position. In training he works like he is playing a game and that it means everything. In the one and half years I worked with him he did not stop working. That is what has resulted in his transfer to Newcastle,” de Boer added.
“Newcastle fans will see a player who can deal with the game in England. He gives 300% for you. He is always concentrating on his game and he never ever gives up.”
Frank de Boer concluded by saying: “He has a bright future ahead. It is a great move by Newcastle United. They are a great club and have a good team. They are one of the biggest clubs in England and Vurnon can be very proud of the move.”
High praise indeed from the 112 times capped Netherlands international who spent the best years of his career with Ajax when they really were a force to be reckoned with in the 90’s before moving on to Barcelona. How about the views of Anita’s now current manager though?
“We are delighted to secure the services of Vurnon,” Alan Pardew told the official club website.
“He is an exceptionally talented footballer with great technical ability, which is exactly what I’m looking at in a player. And, at 23-years-old, we hope his best years are at Newcastle.”
“He has come through the Ajax youth system which is world renowned for bringing up players the right way, and I am sure he will fit seamlessly into the squad of players we have here. Vurnon has done his pre-season, and indeed already played one competitive game, so he’s up to speed and ready to play when I need him.”
Of course some people started panicking when news emerged that Anota wanted to have a meeting with Alan Pardew prior to his move to discuss his role in the team. Which player doesn’t want to do that? Happily it’s all worked and Anita is happy with the role he has assigned for him.
“I talked to the manager (Pardew) and the coach (Carver) and they know that I want to play in a defensive midfield place and that’s why they brought me here,” Anita said. “But I can play at left-back or right-back, so that’s also no problem.”
“I won almost everything in Holland so the step was not difficult to make. Now I think we can also win trophies with Newcastle and it’s time to do that. In the Premier League especially, every game is tough so it can help me also to grow in my football skills,” Anita added.
Vurnon had made 138 appearances for Ajax since his debut back in the 2005-2006 season although his breakthrough really came in the 2008-2009 season where he started to feature more regularly in the first team.
I’m sure you’ll all join me in welcoming Vurnon Anita to the club.
excellent signing, great work by Pards and Co..
hmm so he was bought as a defensive midfielder. does that mean we’ll play 3 in the middle with Cabaye, Tiote and Anita or are we planning on a midfielder to be sold?
mark(Quote)
Excellent news just heard it on the radio, but reading what his manager has said 🙄 makes me even more pleased, as he speaks very highly of him.
I don’t think he’ll play on sat as I think thats to soon for him to get to know his team mates and styles but I think it will give the team a feel good factor, to know thst we are adding to whatwe have.
Would still like to see a CB and a Striker so hopefully this is the start of more to come.
Big Dave(Quote)
“For me he gave everything during his time here. He never complained once to me about having to drop back into another position. In training he works like he is playing a game and that it means everything. In the one and half years I worked with him he did not stop working.’
This is the type of thing I like to see. I have a very good feeling about this lad.
MDS(Quote)
i do think one or two clubs will now try us out with a bid for tiote or cabaye now this lad has joined,just hope we give them the right answer 😕
icedog(Quote)
Well thats the best and forster money sold…..
Any more to come 😀
Never happy 😉
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Ice don’t bring the happy vibe down mate 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
AMF got to do sumit with nee richie aboot to get stuck into 🙁
icedog(Quote)
So many options now with this player. LB with Santon to RB or RS of midfield alongside Tiote and allow Cabaye to wander about a bit further forward which would scare the **** out of most defenses, or as RS of midfield with Cabs in the middle. Solid middle of the park and an all round hard working engine room. A backup CH now please and finish it all off nicely with Toivenen up top. Hawaaaaaaaaaaaay the lads.
Porciestreet(Quote)
@8. It also frees up Perch to play in defense exclusively which seems to be where Pards prefers his as he has played there exclusively in the preseason. Good old Perchy can cover across the back 4. (Still would like a CB though)
MDS(Quote)
Ice, there is always the aussie performance in the olympics to tie you over in lieu of Richie not being around 🙂 🙂
Big Dave, did you find out what the story with Rich is ??
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Sounds like an ideal replacement for Guthrie, who I always thought was underrated. Really chuffed to hear his old boss’s description of him – sounds like exactly our kind of player.
As for fears around fitting him in: we need to think back to the last time we were in Europe and how you look to have two, top-class players for each position. Sounds to me like that’s what the club has started doing.
Besides – with Europe, cups, leagues, ACN, Ramadan and Tiote’s never-ending quest for the record number of suspensions, Anita’s going to see plenty of action!
Whumpie(Quote)
Apparently he may have only cost 6m euros according to dutch reports….if thats true my word
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Any bets on Douglas being the next one in ?
Porciestreet(Quote)
AMF @10 i would mate if they had come over 😉
striker in t/morrow 😉
any way what we going to call this new guy little vern maybe 😀
icedog(Quote)
I think this is the key to controlling midfield that Pardew was going on about at the back end of last season. I’m in no doubt he has been brought as a starter so I reckon we’ll see Tiote and Anita holding with Cabaye playing more advanced.
toonsy(Quote)
LST aye mate £4.7mil cheap as chips 😆
icedog(Quote)
I reckon this is the end of Debuchy though now Anita has said he is willing to play right or left back….
toonsy(Quote)
‘He is one of the hardest working young players I have ever seen’. This seems to be a recurring theme with the players we are bringing in this summer. No more Nile Rangers, coincidence?
DJG(Quote)
Ice crazy eh especially to think that allen cost £15m 🙄
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Yeah but is he class? 🙂 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Great to have this deal finally wrapped up, Hopefully we can get in another 1 or 2 before window shuts. Or even 1 now and 1 in Jan would do me
Johno Toon MD(Quote)
Good piece in the Independent on Anita: http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/08/16/vurnon-anita-versatile-midfielder-who-can-dictate-the-tempo-at-newcastle-united/
Lionel Speed(Quote)
de boer rates him very highly what a coup he issont here for the bench he will start every game he will be the star performer saturday now a monster centre half good in the air as we are useless when against set plays is hernandes part of the deal with rvp if not him on loan wouldont be bad
chris(Quote)
Sorry Kim this was from the last thread
“The higher we finish the more the club earns after all”
But surely it’s the same with each progression you make each cup game? The prize money isn’t massive, but I’d imagine a sell out SJP would make more than the 750k you get for each league place?
Personally, I think our players care more about winning trophies, particularly European ones (because they do matter in Europe) than they do about finishing 7th instead of 8th.
(Btw it wasn’t only you I was aiming at, but people seem to stress that Europe is a must be then equally complain we don’t have the squad for it, I just don’t get it.)
Newkie(Quote)
Demba Ba isn’t a votable option for top scorer but Hernandez is? Eh 😕
Newkie(Quote)
toonsy says:
August 16, 2012 at 14:17
I think this is the key to controlling midfield that Pardew was going on about at the back end of last season. I’m in no doubt he has been brought as a starter so I reckon we’ll see Tiote and Anita holding with Cabaye playing more advanced.
———————————–
I agree. He really gives pards some options:
-play with 2 holding mids
-cover for Tiote during ACoN, midweek Euro matches and cup matches, and Tiote’s inevitable supension or two
MDS(Quote)
“I talked to the manager and the coach and they know that I want to play in a defensive midfield place and that’s why they brought me here,” he said.
tiote and anita? two dms?
ok; interesting. i now expect to see some sort of all out attack. debuchy and another striker would be icing on cake 😆
doitforsirbobby(Quote)
Aussie @ around 10 ? Richie hasn’t been on cause he’s back home at the mo cause his Dad isn’t well 😥 but he will be back soon to abuse you and asked me to abuse you until he gets back, but you know im too much of a nice guy to do that 😀
On Anita I hope it means Cabaye getting forward because he is a waste of talent as a holder.
Big Dave(Quote)
Also on topic-Excellent signing, good to see about the position thing that he shouldn’t be causing any trouble in that regard, and ideas about him being greedy were ill founded
Newkie(Quote)
guti dropped? i like this. options
doitforsirbobby(Quote)
does any body no if the hernandez is part of the deal with rvp if not would any one like him on loan at the toon
chris(Quote)
Speaking of hernandez, although only a couple of us on here will appreciate it , it was great watching him kept completey in pocket last night by Geoff Cameron ….
MDS(Quote)
——–Cisse———Ba
————— Benny—-
———–Cabaye———
—–Anita————Tiote
-Santon-Colo-Staylor-Simmo
—————Krul—————–
Ba gets to play centrally, as Pards stated and can drop back into the mid as much as he wants at a given time. Cisse constantly forward. Benny get’s to play as a trequartista or advanced playmaker which Pards stated he believed as his best position, and Cabaye can focus on his forward work whilst lending a hand in midfield, suiting all his attributes. The best 11 all in their best positions.
Newkie(Quote)
Anita covered a range of positions for Ajax last season but their return to form – Ajax were 11 points behind leaders AZ after just 12 games – coincided with the footballer of Antillean descent playing in his natural defensive midfield role. Ajax began their impressive run of 14 consecutive league wins following the defeat at home to Utrecht, with Anita at left-back. Following that defeat that could have ended their hopes of retaining the championship, Anita returned to midfield duty with devastating results for Ajax’s title rivals. Anita provided defensively stability, ball retention and helped de Godenzonen move the ball quicker and play a quicker tempo.
doitforsirbobby(Quote)
I think the plan appears to be. ‘We have a good squad now starting to take shape with the signings since we returned to the premiership. (Tiote, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Santon, Demba Ba, Marveux, Obertan and Cisse) The plan is to keep what we have and add some cover whilst getting rid of some deadwood. So Bigi, Amalfitano and Good have come in and Smith, Lovenkrands and Guthrie have left. Of those I think Guthrie is a loss so the club have replaced him with Anita, a player ready to go into the first team. We have tried to sign Debuchy as well which hasn’t worked, which is fair enough IMO, it doesn’t always work. The problem remains that we have a good first 11 and not much in the way of proven cover. If Ba and Cisse are out we have Shola, if Taylor or Colloccini are out we have Perch or Curtis Good who we don’t know is er.. experienced enough. The fullback areas could have been strenghened but havn’t, which is why I think Anita might not get to play his favourite position. 🙂
DJG(Quote)
Newkie we should be in it to win it, the E L should be more than just a Euro jollies, imo it doesn’t matter how much money you get it’s the prestige that comes from being European regulars and it instantly ups the clubs profile and at the sametime gets Jabba’s SD out there, so wee all benefit from it.
Big Dave(Quote)
Chris-Pretty sure he’s not part of the deal. I think Fergie will still be making plenty of use of him, think he’s only really got 4 strikers. I’d rather try loan a city player (they tend to pay plenty of the wage) plus they need to offload them plus there’s a chance they could actually join us-unlike Hernandez.
Guidetti on loan….or maybe Adam Johnson
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie I have a replied to your@88 on previous thread o.k . No ,I know you wern’t aiming just at me ,I think we all want the same thing really ,I just would rather we concentrate on what’s really important right now .When we have developed more as a squad then we can all out attack everything. As you said the players care about Europe ,in which case we best finish top 6 again or win FAcup. 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
@35. I agree. the only deadwood left really is Xisco. (Some may put Shola in there but I think he has his place witht the club). A pretty remarkable transition since relegation- we had a ton of high-earning garbage on that team
MDS(Quote)
Dave-Exactly. And it’s a great excuse to go to another country and **** off the locals 😉
Ahh to be European regulars again…
Newkie(Quote)
Cheers Big Dave, give Richie my best regarding his dad.
You are a nice bloke mate, people just have to look really deep deep deep down to find the niceness 🙂 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Kim-Ah right sorry, my mistake. Yeah I get what you mean. It should be an interesting season anyway…there’s plenty of young players I wouldn’t mind seeing more of on the big stage, particularly Bigi and some of the early euro/cup matches should provide a good bedding in ground.
Newkie(Quote)
Aussie i’ll tell him mate 😉
Right catch you’s later
Howay the Lads and Lasses
Big Dave(Quote)
Oh Kim I meant to add-or just go out and win the Europa league itself, we autmatically qualify again if we do
Newkie(Quote)
I can’t see Jonas out of the starting line up.. He is one of Pardz’s go to men, if you are putting a team together on paper, you will need to add him…
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
MDS@32-
Chicharito did have the one completely free header he sent wide, but Cameron did play well for us, and it was a huge win. As big as it can get in a friendly. I’m going to be torn this season between wanting Cameron to progress and wanting Stoke to get thumped every time out.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
On Topic, Very pleased with this signing ,he sounds a model pro according to FDB reference .Look forward to seeing him play. IF we can get a CB and forward maybe we can really try for that Europa cup.
kimtoon(Quote)
This is a great signing for Newcastle.
It’s always great to hear an ex manager speak so highly about a player they have just sold. Don’t get me wrong, not seen too many managers slag them off but for De Boer has not only gave high praise to both Anita and Newcastle. It just gives me confidence that we could do business with Ajax again without bad feeling – which I think is quite important.
Im a third happier than I was last week, a CF and a CB and I’ll be one happy chappy
I think it’s fair the say that I’m alot happier than alot of Gunners will be today. I’m sure most expected to loose RVP but to Man U … 😯 😥 😆 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
I was so happy when I read this I almost started crying during a trip to my hometown in the northern parts of Sweden! Finally a big signing!!! Howay the lads!
Lundmark(Quote)
Aussie@45-
Jonas is dependable, and I’m sure he’ll see plenty of time this season, with Europa League and everything, but I just don’t see how he fits into our best XI. Cabaye, Tiote and Anita all fit better in the midfield, and I would put Ben Arfa and Marveaux ahead of him on the wings.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
Laters Dave
Newkie(Quote)
@46. I thought cameron was immense and has been for a few matches now. I think he is a late bloomer who has the qualities to succeed in england.
Interesting, I read an article yesterday that claimed Newcastle and West Ham both tried to sign hm at the last minute but he had already agreed to personal terms with Stoke…
MDS(Quote)
Oh- and you are right….If forgot about that free header….
MDS(Quote)
Newkie ,is that right ,I didn’t know it was the same as the CL where you can defend the cup ❗ 😀 Still we must exercise caution all the same ,I would hate for our league form to suffer and end up out the cup and out of a Euro place in all. 🙁 Would feel much better if we could only get a quality CB in ,but I’m starting to sound like a bloody broken record now. 🙄 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Charlie, I agree he should be on the bench but Pardz always fits Jonas into his team.. Marv will be on the bench I reckon..
Pardz is saying that he expects one more through the door before the window shuts… so if that is the case and we get a CB in, it will mean the Debuchy deal is dead and vice versa…
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Aussie-Jonas is a great pro, unfortunately he’s a bit of a handy man that doesn’t exactly excel anywhere on the pitch. I guess we could play him at full back? Otherwise he’s competing with Anita.
That being said, I fully expect him to play every minute in “second string” games where the formation would be different, and he could cover for a couple of positions. He might not even be that bad in Benny’s position…. 😯
Newkie(Quote)
MDS@52-
If we had gotten Cameron, I would have been pretty pumped. As excited and hopeful as I am for him coming to the EPL, I’m not sure how quickly he’ll adjust, but if we don’t get a quality CB in, I’ll wish we had him. Either way, I think it’s pretty much a lock that he’ll be starting for the U.S. in Brazil.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
Newkie, I would put money on Jonas starting on Saturday and the following games…
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
MDS@52 It’s that red hair ,there is special powers in that hair ,goes all the way to the feet.that’s why only 15% of the population have it. 😉 😎
kimtoon(Quote)
Aussie@55-
I know what you mean about Pardew fitting him in. I guess I’m just hoping that having two DMs on the field will give Pardew the confidence to play an all-out attacking front 4, at least against teams we should be beating. I would expect to see Jonas start against teams like Man United, Chelsea, etc., with someone like Marveaux coming on as an impact sub. Against lower teams, I’d hope Marveux starts, with the super sub role being handed to Obertan and his speed.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
mDS 😳 I should really wear my glasses ,thought you was talikng about Camball 🙄 😳 😆 **** sake wake up kim.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon-Aye pretty sure you do, I think the common mistake is thinking we get into the CL via winning the EL. Pretty sure if you win it they let you defend it though, auto qualify to the groups (unless we qualified for the CL of course 😉
Agree about that centre back…ah well 😎
Newkie(Quote)
AMF
I think, playing the same formation as last season, Anita will take Jonas’s position. Jonas will probably now be competing with Marv/Ba for that left wing role.
He doesn’t fit into Newkie’s formation, which I think would be our strongest team.
Great to have options now. Have the talent such that we can choose whether to focus a game through the middle, down the wings etc
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
aussie magpie fan says:
August 16, 2012 at 15:06
Pardz is saying that he expects one more through the door before the window shuts… so if that is the case and we get a CB in, it will mean the Debuchy deal is dead and vice versa…
——————————
It seems like as soon as they rejected our last offer for Debuchy the Anita stuff heated up so imagine it was one or the other.
As for CB, I still think we’re waiting on Douglas….
MDS(Quote)
That’s what I get for skipping through threads 🙄 .Is Anita playing on saturday ,I havn’t seen Pards press conference .?
kimtoon(Quote)
If we have good defensive mid, it will allow Jonas to attack with more confidence down the wings. He has had to do that much back tracking to cover our back men… Jonas will start…
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
MDS@64-
What’s the deal with Douglas, anyway? I know he needs to stay in the Netherlands until a certain point to become eligible to play for the national team, but what are the specifics? If we did have a deal in place, when could he actually come over?
Charlie Prince(Quote)
Aussie- I agree I think he’ll be playing, but only because of injuries. Imo and because Pards often likes to let players like Anita adjust, I just don’t think he would be in our “best” 11. Well, unless he can out take Simmo’s place
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie,
I think you have the formation spot, on… the problem I have is that I don’t think that either Simpson or Raylor have a place in that style of play.
If we are going to play with two definsive midfielders, then we need two attacking wing backs… Santon and … ??
Simpson is good defensively, but poor going forward and in possession.
Raylor is decent at passing, but doesn’t have the stamina nor skill to get up and down the flank. So we’d definately need to get someone like Debuchy in OR play Jonas as a wing back.
Still most important to get a centre back in for me. We have Perch and Willo as back up but that isn’t good enough IMO.
Debuchy, and Douglas would be great. But Pardew seems to think one more at most. 😐
JJ(Quote)
The thing Jonas has in his favour is that he is a seasoned pro in the pl and you know what you are going to get from him. Pardz won’t gamble too much and Jonas is one of his main guys.. On paper and potential he is not in our best 11 but for runs on the board, he is for sure..
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
With two DMs and plenty of options for the other midfield/wing spots, maybe it is Pardew’s plan to use Jonas more as a wingback. Depending on how quickly Tiote and Anita gel, you could easily see Jonas and Santon starting at fullback against teams we need to attack, with Simpson (and maybe Raylor) playing when we’re looking to go more defensive. At this point, if we got Debuchy in but no CB, I’d be disappointed. Debuchy would be somewhat of a luxury, whereas our lack of depth at CB could be a big problem.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
Not sure who said this , but somone over last few days was saying we need to get to the point where we cant argee on our starting 11. I quietly thought to myself they were dead right , its healthy to have a competition for places and I think this signing is giving us all thoughts ( in the midfield area atleast ) who is our in our strongest team. Interest few weeks a head!
Johno Toon(Quote)
CP @67. I’m not sure I totally understand it, but I think you are right. At some pijt in the comming weeks I think he becomes elegibile for the dutch national team at which point I believe he won’t need a work permit to play in england since he will be a citizen of an EU country.
Despite a clear need for a CB, he is the only one where it has been confirmed that we were in for. That makes some people think we are just waiting to pounce once the citizenship goes through…
MDS(Quote)
Aussie@70-
I think we’re pretty much on the same page – Jonas WILL start at the beginning of the season. If things go well (Anita settling quickly, Marveaux staying healthy, etc.), I think (or maybe just hope) he’ll take on more of an injury cover/cup game role.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
I think defensive income is either Douglas or Debuchy – simply because there hasn’t been anyone else as heavily link and there’s isn’t much longer left in the window – but this is NUFC of course so anything is possible.
It’s the forward option that interests me though – I have no clue who Pardews preferred player who be?! 😕
Sharpy17(Quote)