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.
I’d go:
______________Krul______________
Santon____Taylor___Colo______Jonas
_______Tiote_________Anita_______
_____________Cabaye____________
Ben Arfa_________________Marveaux
______________Cisse_____________
or…
______________Krul______________
Santon____Taylor___Colo______Jonas
_______Tiote_________Anita_______
_____________Cabaye____________
__________Ben Arfa (free role)______
_________Cisse_____Ba__________
JJ(Quote)
Johno@72-
I agree that it’s a good thing that we can’t agree on a starting 11 – we have versatility now, and can trot out different lineups and different formations depending on the opposition, injuries, suspensions, etc.
MDS@73-
My concern with Douglas (aside from his mental composure) is when this citizenship thing goes through. We only have two weeks left in the window, right? I just haven’t seen any concrete date as to when he’ll be OK to move. I assume Carr and co. have it figure out, but if it comes down to a FIFA decision, we could be left in the cold.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
JJ@76-
I think that first lineup you’ve got there is our best XI. I don’t think we’ll start the season that way because of injuries and everything, but I hope we see that lineup moving forward.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
You gotta feel for the Mackems mind ,Louis Saha on a one year deal ,not exactly a stellar signing like 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Well we have signed up just about the best midfielder in the Eredivisie 😀 Ajax fans are going to be well pissed off , this lad was so important too them that i think they have sold away their title chances this season .
Axel(Quote)
CP@77 ,If FIFA are involved ,you can be sure we’ll be left in the cold. 🙄 .
kimtoon(Quote)
JJ-Agree, Jonas as a wingback on the right would be interesting-I don’t think Simmo getting the ball whilst forward is bad-he’s energetic and makes smartish runs which can open up space for the player on the wing, or he can get the ball and deliver decent crosses. His problem is running with the ball, and perhaps decisions, he certainly won’t get to the byline and try and take on defenders.
Jonas’s acceleration is a bit of a problem defensively, and he can be unsure at actually *tackling* but obviously for hassling he is superb, so he might be a little weaker than simmo defensively but a lot better going forward. As for Raylor, I don’t count him as a full back (unless he has Jonas to play in front of him and do all his running)
As for Tav…never really seen him bomb forward either, but he looks better on the ball than simmo.
Newkie(Quote)
newkie spot on have we got room for johnson guedeti would be a welcome asset dont think city would stand in his way can you see pardew going in for him i still think we are going to struggle this season our defence issont good enough a powerfull centre back is priority now with a rb or lb have a solid back 4 and we could have a deasent season
chris(Quote)
great signing……any one know what side euro game is next thurs? cheers
stevo(Quote)
CP @77. I thought I read it was supposed to be sorted later in August??? I;m not saying it will happen, but it would explain the lack of CB activity. Unless of course the club thinks Tavs and Perch provide sufficient cover for Collo/Staylor/willo.
Axel @80. Glad to hear that coming form you. I’d be right bothered of I was an Ajax suporter. Not too long ago they were a titan of Europe.
MDS(Quote)
As long as Saha doesn’t play against us like he did when he was at Spurs 👿
Newkie(Quote)
mds pards must think tav is cover at cb as he has played him there preseason moved from rb ,perchino can cover back with willo n raylor no problem
stevo(Quote)
Just seen Anita talking on SSN ,excellent english .
kimtoon(Quote)
JJ-Agree that the first one would be a very handy one as far as rotation goes, it means we could have either Cisse or Ba leading the line, along with a mish mash of our other midfielders that would still be a top class side.
I just can’t see us leaving Ba out of the team…and I can’t really see him playing anywhere but the centre-due to Pards’ statement…although personally last years 4-3-3 was fine.
Newkie(Quote)
douglas would be a great signing powerful good in the air good bringing the ball out scores he is what we need a big comanding centre back
chris(Quote)
kimtoon do you know if next thursdays europa game is on tv cheers
stevo(Quote)
Chris-I’d go for the opposite, I think we need a defender comfortable on the ball, composed and good passing ability so we can play out of defense and don’t have to hoof it.
Staylor is obviously a centre back capable of scoring and good in the air, and whatever people say Willo can header a ball out of defence…most of the time 😉 If we ended up with a back line of Simmo, Willo, Staylor and Raylor it would be pass it sideways until under pressure, then hoof…
Newkie(Quote)
Chris-Unfortunately can’t see us going in for either of them, it doesn’t seem like we’ve shown any interest, which is a shame really. We need a young striker and whilst I’m happy for Campbell to get a few cameos as a sub if he’s ready, I’m not expecting any sort of impact-which Guidetti could definitely provide..
Newkie(Quote)
Stevo ,it’s usually on chn 5 , but there’s no prog info for thursday yet ,tommorow it may show 5’s listings for next thursday.
kimtoon(Quote)
cheers kimtoon…newkie dont think cambel will be ready at 17 needs his stint at confrence level then lg footy under pards in afraid ,hopefully we can get him a place on loan
stevo(Quote)
Stevo-Aye, I agree, for whatever reason though we seem reluctant to loan players out for decent spells. It would probably be too early for Campbell in any case and they may not even have considered loaning him yet.
Newkie(Quote)
two years ago we had airey ,adjay,mcdermot etc all big stuff about them but not a lot could even get a decent loan spell ready for their next step up ,but im sure those lads will go on to good things as they are tallented to be at nufc for at least a few years …a lot of people dont realise how tough it is for these young players
stevo(Quote)
but cant wait for nufc this year ….gona be a busy one at that! 😉
stevo(Quote)
Kim and Stevo – I think Channel 5 have lost (or given up?) the rights to the Europa now. It’s all on ESPN and ITV. ITV4 are showing Hearts vs Liverpool, but there’s no match on ESPN as far as I can tell 😐
Jon R(Quote)
Stevo ,Jon@99 Beat me to it ,just been searching internet and discovered that itv and espn have rights now. Apparently itv will show games on itv4 and itv.com and Espn will show one match per week and both have highlights shows too. ITV 1 will show all teams that reach the quater finals. Can’t find any games listed for either yet though.
kimtoon(Quote)
Jon, Toon may be on ITV.COM if not ESPN. 😕
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim, yeah you could be right. Personally I find ITV.com live streams to be bloody awful though, disconnecting every 10 mins and making me go through the adverts all over again 👿
Jon R(Quote)
“I think it (keeping players) is key to a club like ours, where we are vulnerable to the Champions League clubs and the salaries and fees they can pay,” said Pardew.
“But as I’ve said all along here, Mike Ashley and the board don’t sell cheap, so they would have to come and pay us a hell of a lot of money to take one of our players.”
Pardew
why does he keep saying this? just be buzzing about new signing. no one asked him about keeping players. why keep bringing it up?
doitforsirbobby(Quote)
Kim – I saw Anita on SSN – also Pardew speaking just after him and reading between the lines, they are only looking to bring ONE other signing 😯 🙁
I think Douglas or Debuchy but I’d like it to be Yanga – Mbiwa who would give us more defensive cover as can play CB or FB.
CF wise – Tiovonen would be a good buy, but for youth and development I’d love to see either Guidetti or Rhodes. I wouldn’t be against a loan deal tho for someone like Henandez or Carroll as long as it came with an option to buy as I don’t want to benefit rival clubs by developing their players with game time just for them to bugga off at the end of the season
Sharpy17(Quote)
@Do it
The way that question is answered he was almost definitely asked!
I don’t know why people keep complaining about this approach. Basically Pardew can’t win. He could say they are not for sale but then get stick over the Carroll sale. At least he’s being very honest. Arsenal ARE a champions league club and can’t compete with salaries.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Along those lines, I think the best we can ever hope for is emulating Arsenal.
That may bring success, it may not.
It will definitely have a lot of criticisms from our own fans though as we’ll be deemed a “selling club”
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7995459/Bale-confident-over-fitness
Fingers crossed eh
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
with regards to one player being brought in i think it wil b a striker, we will only go for a for Debuchy if we sell simpson. But maybe we will get a suprise when Douglas becomes a Deutch national on the 25th.
Alex(Quote)
ALEX thanks for that date! didnt have a clue what it was 😉
icedog(Quote)
ST – whether people want to accept it or not, you make a very valid point.
Arsenal may not have won anything for afew season and my not have been title contenders for sometime now – but they HAVE qualified for the champions league for the last 11 years in a row 😯 that’s one hell of an achievement.
However it clearly doesn’t give you guarantees, and of course Arsenal charge the most of all league clubs for tickets – yet the fans loose their top players. In fairness, they have added some good players this summer but if you don’t pay the wages you risk loosing your stars and that will always be a real threat to Newcastle in either signing new players or keeping the ones we have.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Alex – I was thinking that mate, is this a case of Pardew covering his bottom just incase a transfer doesn’t come off – but then if it does they can big the board up?!
Sharpy17(Quote)
off topic for a mo,at pardews talk-in he said ranger would never play for toon again as long as hes manager,rangers reply via twatter was; i have 4yrs left on my contract so there is nothing he can do about it,what a ****-heed 👿
icedog(Quote)
Icedog. That so fits in with our transfer policy. We have a ready made replacement for Xisco at half the wages.
Premandup(Quote)
Ice – we could pop a cap in his *** 😎
On a serious note tho, I think Ranger would be stupid to stay at Newcastle if he has no part to play and I know reasoning with a moron is difficult but let’s hope he has some sensible advisors around him
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY cannot see him going anywhere until jan mores the pity,cannot see a club touching him until after his court case in oct 😥
icedog(Quote)
On topic. I was advocating Jonas as DM last season and when it happened he did well, but also showed how Anita will fit in. Great buy. Could even play 4-3-1-2 or similar with all three. Good away against the top teams.
Wonder who else is coming in.
Premandup(Quote)
I see Swansea have made another decent signing in Bartley….Would of been a decend 3rd/4th CB for us at 1million he is a steal IMO.
Oblong(Quote)
Ice – think you’re probably right there mate, when does the loan window close for the lower league clubs again? I know it’s later than ours so he may get a loan deal.
I kinda get the feeling that Pardew is a man of his word when it comes to thinks like this like and it won’t matter if Ranger gets his head out of his own **** and knuckled down – think he’s had all the chances he’s gonna get now like.
Oblong – youre dead right there mate, Bartley for £1m is an absolute bargain there. He’s got loads of potential for what I saw of him at Rangers.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I must admit i havnt seen a lot of him but what i have seen at both Shef Utd and Rangers i liked. He looked quite pacey as well for a CB and can play RB. Oh well…..good luck to him at Swansea and lets hope we get someone better in…..
Oblong(Quote)
Start of new season syndrome.. Dreaming has arrived…
For us we know we can have faith on our starting XI if they stay fit.
However as it stands chelsea are relying on torres to come out the shadows. arsenal are hoping their two new strikers adapt with ease. spurs hoping to get anyone in to aid defoe! Liverpool.. well. just Liverpool.
We have the most settled team outside the top 2 basically.
So excited.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
OBLONG wonder if he could be a replacment for their c/h there been quite large bids for him 😉
icedog(Quote)
I certainly wouldnt complain if Williams arrived on tyneside Ice, He is a quality defender. Can’t see it mind 😕
Oblong(Quote)
thats what i was hinting at mate,but i agree 🙁
icedog(Quote)
Ice – reckon he’s been brought in to replace Caulkner who was there on loan from Spuds last season. But if Ashley Williams was on his way I could live with that.
Scott Dann is available from BBurn as well like for about £3-4m I think – he looked decent at Birmingham and he’s only about 25
Sharpy17(Quote)
@ SolanosTrumpet
I can’t wait for Saturday. Personally i think both Chelski and Arsenal have made some good additions and i expect Torres to be on fire this season (He better be…Ive got him up front with Cisse in my Fantasy football 😆 ) Liverpool and Spurs are nothing for us to worry about though. I think the battle for top 6 could be the closest for years with us pushing for 4th again. Slightly optomistic maybe with the amount of games but why not we are good enough IMO.
Oblong(Quote)
I think Scott Dann looked a bit shakey last season for BB at times but it couldnt of been the easiest place to play. He was class at Brum and still looks to have potential especially as back up.
Oblong(Quote)
I reckon next in is a forward ,just can’t seem to land a CB for some reason ,how long we needed one for now 🙄 .Wouldn’t be surprised if we had another by the weekend ,bit like buses . 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Personally I think we have explored a few options. I think the Ivory Coast v Senegal game is key. If IC win we don’t need another Striker. But Remy has been sounded out & Carroll may be the subject of a last day bid. Defensively I think both Pieters & Douglas are waiting on injury & citizenship respectively. Debuchy I think is dead unless something major changes. Can’t see us buying from the membership as there is no value there .
Premandup(Quote)
Kim I wouldn’t be surprised if we have arranged the Douglas deal and are just waiting for his Dutch citizenship to be finalized 😕
Oblong I wouldn’t write the Dippers and Spurs off mate 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
**** phone. Premiership not membership.
Premandup(Quote)
Ha Oblong I’ve got him in as well. Surely got to return to his world class self at some point.
I’d take either Roger Johnson or Dann. Very happy with Saylor as first choice for the time being so either would only be 3rd choice. Neither shone last year but both proved with Brum that they have the capability to play in the Prem.
Finding it hard to decide whether I think we need another cultured defender or a brute. I’m going for brute. Preferably British. Just because Colo seems to do okay on injuries (touch wood..!) and when Saylor was out we lacked a vocal leader.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Prem ,still got a feeling Carroll will turn up.
kimtoon(Quote)
Hope Toonsy updates my article. RvP was not on. Nor Anita or Modric. Not that that affects my predictions.
Kim, that’s my thoughts too.
Premandup(Quote)
What happens if Carroll stays on the bench til January ? What’s his value then?
Premandup(Quote)
Wonder if we were ever really after De Jong? I wonder if we have helped Twente get more for him from Bayern Munchengladbach – and our real business with them is Douglas.
Just a thought.
Stardust(Quote)
Stardust@135 ,now there’s a thought 😉
Prem@134 I can’t see him staying on bench picking up loadsamoney when they can use the cash for him for a new player. Having said that if Agger goes they should get a fair bit in for him like ,Difference is Buck wants him to stay unlike Carroll.
kimtoon(Quote)
what a strange one daves mate on the move 😆
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11711/7996833/Barton-set-for-Marseille-loan
icedog(Quote)
Stardy 😕 tbh why would we go after a player that only wanted to join Munchengladbach it just didn’t make any sense, and I don’t think we work that way
Big Dave(Quote)
Ice could have told you that today mate but I didn’t know what club but was pretty sure he would be going. 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
OK, by now most of us know what Anita is like out of possession, but take a look at this video for a true indication of what he is like IN possession.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMWMUVjT5Eg
Count how many times he loses the ball
The Kid(Quote)
Dave – we already have a relationship with Twente.
Llambias was reported there in the middle of buying De Jong ( But supposing it can’t be leaked we are trying to buy Douglas – who can’t be seen to leave or will invalidate his upcoming Dutch citizenship) so we ‘help’ Twente by leaking we want to buy De Jong (and protect ourselves at the same time – as a EU Douglas is guaranteed a UK passport and is worth more).
This would be backed up by Douglas’s confusing and contradictory statements. As I said – just a thought.
Stardust(Quote)
KID havent seen the kid much but he wont get that kind of time on the ball in PL that he got in that clip like
icedog(Quote)
Stardust
I agree. I see Douglas joining and have done since it first came out we had made a bid for him. It just fits NUFC so well. A player who is allegedly very close to breaking into the Holland squad if he gets his citizenship. We are all about signing players JUST before their price tag increases.
The Kid(Quote)
Ice
You’re right, he won’t. He gets a lot of time on the ball there, but it’s more about his decision making. He is one of those players who is thinking about the next pass prior to receiving the ball and it’s something I tend to admire in players.
The Kid(Quote)
@The Kid
He looks very impressive doesn’t he. Pretty comfortable with both feet. Decent short and long range passing.
Three in midfield with Cabaye pushed further up could really dominate teams next year.
@Stardy
Yeah, I thought it was possible details weren’t released as Twente would be charged extra for any replacement defender. We’ll see in time anyway.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@ Big Dave.
Im not writting them off as such i just think we have (as things stand) better team than both. Might be mindless optomism on my part but we will see. Hopefully we will see a couple more additions to the squad before the end of the window and the kids step up to the plate…I just cant wait to get under way on Saturday!
@Solano
Id go for a brute/solid defender as well. To be fair id take any decent defender at the minute just to boost the number. Im sure the club have a plan though….we will see soon enough i suppose 😀
Oblong(Quote)
ST – I read an article today that Munsterman still wants sales to facilitate signings – the opposite to before De Jongs sale. Apparently Douglas is the most obvious to sell (other players ages and Douglas’s contact situation).
It just strikes me as extraordinarily NUFC at the moment. We are incredibly well organised – anyone who thinks differently hasn’t a clue 😆
Stardust(Quote)
That’s an interesting thought, Stardust. That would be a very clever business strategy.
Mind you it means giving Llambias credit for having a brain, and it means he can cooperate with another human being. According to some on here that is impossible 😆
brisvegas(Quote)
To be fair Dusty, we’ve come a long way since we advertised interested parties in buying the club to apply by email. 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
In other news…….Joey Barton to Marseille on a season long loan with M’Bia going the other way………surely this is bollocks???? 😯
Oblong(Quote)