Sissoko signs on for six-and-a-half-years

Moussa Sissoko - Our latest recruit
Moussa Sissoko – Our latest recruit
Newcastle have made it four signings in four days and five in total this January with their latest addition, Moussa Sissoko, who signs from Toulouse on an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old has signed a six-and-a-half-year contract at St James’ Park after speculation earlier on in the week linked the player with a move in the summer when his contract expires and not now when a nominal fee would be payable.

That fee is believed to be in the region of £1.8 million taking our total spending to roughly just under £20 million although that figure is plucked from speculative figures mentioned in the local press. However, in the region of £1.8 million for a player who was being touted around for over £15 million just last season is not bad business at all.

I’ve not been worried about this transfer at all. The lad has made all the right noises from the start and it was always going to end our way when Toulouse effectively suspended the player earlier on in the week. However I’m mindful that no deal is done until the player is on the official website holding up the shirt, and as you can see from the picture above we are at that stage now.

Sissoko has been speaking to the official website about his move and how delighted he is to be joining what is becoming a French revolution at United.

“I am delighted to be a Newcastle United player,” said Sissoko. “This is a massive Club playing in the best league in the world, and I believe my style of play is suited to the Premier League.”

“I have heard lots about how fantastic the Newcastle supporters are and cannot wait to get started. I am rising to a new challenge by coming here and want to firstly help the team improve this season and then progress after that,” he added.

Alan Pardew also welcomed Sissoko to United and praised the players “drive and energy” which will help the squad.

“This transfer window has proved very productive for us and Moussa arriving today is a massive plus for the Club,” said Pardew.

“He will bring drive and energy to the squad, he is a winner and that’s why I’m especially pleased to have him with us.”

“What all our signings this window bring is essential competition for places and that is great for the remainder of the season,” Pardew concluded.

Sissoko signed for Toulouse aged just 14 and spent his formative years progressing through their youth ranks before making his debut in 2007. In total he made 218 appearances for Toulouse scoring 23 goals. Equally impressive is the fact that he is a full France international having earned six caps for Les Blues along with representing his country of birth at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 level.

The number 7 shirt is now owned by Sissoko who has been described as the closest thing to Patrick Viera since Patrick Viera and the long-term deal shows a lot of faith in the player from our side as well, no doubt, as a protection should other clubs come calling.

Good work all round!

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

268 thoughts on “Sissoko signs on for six-and-a-half-years

  1. Morning folks. Looking forward to the transfer talk today on SSN, does anyone know which French team we play next in Europe? Oh, hang on, WE ARE THE FRENCH TEAM!!

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  2. Brilliant transfer business rubber stamped by Wengers strange comments, I wonder if he put his brain in gear before he said what he did.
    A lot is being made already of the imbalance the influx will cause in the squad, but no one has pointed out that the positive side of it will be that they will settle in quicker as they are all familiar with each other.
    I don’t care or think it matters where the players are from, we now have senior options and have strengthened in the very positions most supporters have been worried about, well done to the manager and board.

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  3. <<<<<<<<<<, would still like to see us sign another cb though some1 like douglas would be the icing on the cake for me but well happy with the players we brought in

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  4. TAE ‘very strong player is Sissoko’ – channeling Yoda you are!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

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  5. @Robert

    I agree about the players being able to settle in quickly cos the all speak French.

    Almost the entire Arsenal team were French a few years back and Wenger never seemed to have a problem understanding them so I expect Pardew won’t.

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  6. At Arsene Wenger’s pre-Brighton cup-tie press conference this morning,as well as the usual stuff he was asked about Newcastle United’s January transfer activity so far.

    As the clear top dog over the years when it comes to the French market, very interesting to hear his take on the players United have brought in;

    “Newcastle have made good buys and done very well on the market.

    You go for quality players, you don’t look very much where they come from.

    I spoke about the core of English players (at Arsenal) because it is easier to keep them together, than if you have players from Spain or South America.

    The most important thing is the quality of players and on that front Newcastle have done very well”.

    While Newcastle still have to put the points on the board, it is encouraging to hear his take on our recent acquisitions.

    It also suggests that Newcastle are looking in the right places in terms of players like rising star Florian Thauvin, Bastia now considering Newcastle’s 3m Euros bid, with the Corsican club’s President also confirming that Wenger had phoned him twice this week about the player but as yet hadn’t put any cash on the table.

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  7. Yes, Moreno, I do play it now and again. 😆

    The idiots got rid of Player-Manager career mode though which makes my **** boil worse than cystitis.
    It means you have to suffer at the hands of the occasionally idiotic AI managers if you want to play as a Virtual Pro in Player Career.

    At least the game engine is an improvement on last years, I guess.

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  8. I can’t wait to see the transformation of our down on form players now that we have shown some transfer ambition. They will play out of skins now…… forget the new players, the fact that we spent some coin will send us up the table…

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  9. Im over the moon with this, the one player I wanted us to get in the summer and we got him + 4 more close the window NOW!

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  10. @Aussie

    I believe that’s been a huge obstacle for Pardieu. The players must have been questioning the ambition of the club and that’s reflected in their performances.

    They will naturally have a spring in their step and they won’t even realise it.

    Funnily enough, I’m just putting on my spring loaded running stilts and heading to work. 😛

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  11. Troy, the new signings will give the whole squad a kick up the sphinctal cavity 😉 Everybody needs to put in a shift or they’ll be out the team. Of course Jonas and Shola are the first names on the team sheet 🙂 😳

    Seriously, with our new all attacking midfield, modelled on the Dortmund line up, I would play Shola in the middle against Villa, he will batter them young Villa defenders who’s confidence is probably shot anyway. Cisse couldn’t hit a barn door at the moment, no matter how much we have perservered with him…

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  12. Aussie Magpie Fan I’m pretty good mate, how are you doing ? Are you a happy lad after all the spondoolicks being thrown around by our mate Mike 😉 ? I’ll be ower your way for a week in February… Melbourne way… 🙂

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  13. Eminem, very happy with our transfer business, I don’t think anyone saw this coming. 🙂 🙂 Melbourne is the wrong side of the country for me mate.I hope you have a good trip.. If I have to travel over that way for work (which is often), we will have to arrange a catch up and some beers 🙂

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  14. Troy, I think Debuchy, Sissoko and Mbiwa are good business. Buys like that in the summer would probably have stopped us ending up facing relegation worries.
    Gouffran and Haidara are more of an unknown but fingers crossed kind of business. I’m fairly certain Gouffran HAS to be better than Obertan and Shola added together though. If Haidara is decent it gives us much needed depth at fullback.

    One things for certain, this is creating a more positive vibe in the city. I expect it will resonate through to the players too and hopefully will help them lift their games.
    Providing Pardew doesn’t screw things up with anymore displays of tactical ineptitude, of course.

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  15. MM, er, you have noticed that Shola has spent his entire career being unable to hit a cows **** with a banjo, haven’t you?

    Seriously, he’s almost immobile. The only way he could batter a defence is if it accidentally ran into him.
    Like the Titanic ran into the iceberg.

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  16. POOTLE @174,
    With you all the way regarding Shola, he has had sooooooooooooo many chances and let both himself and the team down with his lacklustre performances. Save him for the 5under1and game 😉

    Delighted with our signings, we will now have energy and drive in our midfield. Of all the signings Mbwia and Sissoko could prove to be pivotal. Just hope Pardew gets his tactics and formation right, Jonas MUST be benched as he offers nowt to the team, like playing with 10 men when he is in the side.
    Cabaye MUST be played in a more advanced role as he has the tools in his locker to unlock a defence.
    I wait with baited breath to see how Pardew sets us up on Tuesday 😉

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  17. Just seen the interview with Sissoko he looks a tough boy with confidence, he definitely looks like a Keane/ Viera player that a whole team is built around. An iconic number 7 in the making. Let’s hope so.

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  18. @Pootle

    I agree, only having read others reviews on the players bought, they seem cracking buys.

    I can’t wait for Villa now.

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  19. Lionel, what was Sissoko saying in his interview that makes him sound tough?

    Only Ali could get away with those tricks. 😆

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  20. I don’t believe it ,how many hours is it since we signed someone,it’s not on ,c’mon mike pull your finger out man 😉

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  21. Delighted with last few days, some really good buys. But wont mean **** if we dont get 3 points at Villa Tues. We lose and we are in all sorts of trouble. In saying that I think we will win and this injection of new players will give us the boost needed to.

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  22. Just wondering if we have any crazy gang style initiation ceremonies for new players and what we could suggest if we haven’t.

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  23. Have we heard if Cabaye will be fit for Tuesday ?

    Am a bit envious of the toon fans heading to Villa, they’re gonna get a first hand glimpse of “Les nouvelle Toon”… 🙂

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  24. Munich
    I believe Cabaye is fit, but suspect many will be on the bench.
    If Saylor fit he may get nod ahead of MYM and Sissoko off the bench
    Think Gouffran might start, hope so anyway.
    Who knows they all might be reseves if we buy anothe 10 players this window.

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  25. Premandup@182, aye we have a couple of suspects in the line up, but the players WAG’s need to buy into it. Teambuilding at it’s finest… 😉

    I’d be happier to see Cabaye maybe start on the bench, rather than knackering himself for the important run in / europe. I’d hope we have enough about us to give Villa a game anyway..

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  26. Villa: if new signings are eligible to play….

    Krul
    Debuchy Taylor Mbiwa Santon
    Sissoko Perch
    Cabaye
    Gouffran/Jonas Marveaux
    Cisse

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  27. I would imagine Toulouse are pretty peeved at losing the backbone of there midfield for a miserly 2 million quid 🙄 I’m sure we as supporters would also be livid if that had happened to us. It seems as if everyone we sign now is on a long term contract which safeguards this “leaving for nowt in the summer” scenario. We’ve probably only had our fingers burned once with Jose Enrique, but it looks like Ashley learned from that one.

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  28. Aye aye, we signed anyone yet? 😉 still got nae internet 👿 (in cafe now) relying on texts to keep me up to date. Some good signings, would have been better in the summer but hey ho.

    Ice/Dave/toonsy if ya about ping me an email as this bloody phone won’t let me access my contact list 🙄

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  29. Richie me old bean hows tricks, yeah we signed a few bench players, but no big players yet 😉 .
    I’ll sent you an email in a bit when im on the pc.
    Have you got everything sorted yet ?

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  30. Robert – fingers crossed on that one then mate.
    I think he could be the CF that hits the ground running.

    Toonsy – ha way mate, where’s today’s article bonnylad?

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  31. Dave… cheers. Sorted ish but we have a load in storage in Madrid that comes next month and hopefully internet start of Feb.

    Aye a couple of signings for the development squad 😆 still a striker to come and probs young butland 😉

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  32. RICHIE ive knocked a email out to you,try reading while your eating,would hate to knock you off balance 😆

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  33. Troy @ 157 😆 Made me laugh that one like. Sarcasm being the lowest form of wit and all that 😉

    Alreet Richie? Whereabouts you end up buying fella?

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  34. thing that i dont understand is lack of truth over injurys to players ie when benny came off in his last game pardew said he had hurt his hamstring and would be out a couple of games,that was weeks ago now its said he wont be back in the toon for another two or three weeks,whats ganning on like

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  35. Ice, I agree, Benny has been out for some time, no small injury there, I reckon he has pulled up lame after his last game and it has been glossed over..

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  36. Javea? Class!

    I remember a waitress in the Champagne bar on the Playa Arenal…she really was something else….

    Going back 10 years here mind but remember it like it was yesterday

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  37. Ice

    I think Benny went to Clarefontaine for treatment to his injury.

    Think they hang on to players until injury is fully healed.

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  38. Moreno…aye mate, feet 1st is the only way I’ll leave here ….there’s a few canny waitresses 😉

    Aussie….or it could be the best time to be offline 😉

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  39. Hopefully this Sissoko chap will be the missing link from our midfield that will combine better with the strikers.
    We gonna score a hat full against villa now I think.
    The pressure is off Cisse too, so I fully expect him to start banging them in.
    Howay the Lads

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  40. summer transfer window is gonna be pretty quiet compared to this one.
    Should have a good pre season tho.
    Just hope we avoid the drop this season.
    I do feel alot more confident tho, but we have GOT to beat the villa.

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  41. BB – I think more than anything he’s going to be the voice on the pitch that were missing. He’s gonna stop heads dropping and when we need a player to do something to raise the rest, I think he’s the type of player that will pick the ball up and go on a powerful direct run at the opposition.
    I honestly believe this kid is mustard. For £1.8m of whatever it was, this could be our best signing EVEN … ok maybe not quite but you know what I mean 😛

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  42. yeah bang on Sharpy. We have missed a natural leader on the pitch.
    Can see him becoming club captain when Colo leaves in the summer.
    Hopefully he will keep all the frogs pulling in the same direction.
    Both him and MYM seem like big powerfully built players, which we have desperately needed.

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  43. I apologise for blaming ashley. he has done more than enough to help pardew! i am over the moon. thankyou ashley, now its down to pardew! no one to blame but him now!

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  44. I wonder if we are still going to try and bring in a new striker before the window shuts.

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  45. Terry, steady on fella.
    Dont you think Ashley would have done better to strengthen the squad last summer, instead of having to panic buy now?
    Or was it always the plan to hang on til now, but didn’t forsee the shocking position we have ended up in at the moment.
    I agree, that it is down to pardew now, to get the best out of the whole squad.
    He has no more excuses. Apart from his own innabilities and cluelessness.

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  46. Beardsley@217, I reckon that Pardew has set his heart on getting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from St Etienne. To be honest it seems as if this lad isn’t too keen on coming to the UK, even later in the summer. Maybe we are better off chasing Van Winklewolf or whatever his name is… for sure we need another main striker, even more so that Benny seems to be knackered at the mo and could in theory break down at any moment.

    I don’t think having a defence and midfield made up of super athletes and enforcers is enough to keep us up. Tricky call for Ashley… Now if Cisse started cracking them in again that would help a lot…

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  47. Boots – the summer window will be an interesting one mate. With us buying all these French boys its a clear statement that a lot of our squad players that we’ve relied on so far this season, haven’t been good enough. It will be interesting to see if they are up for sale and replaced.
    I do think he’ll need a replacement for Simpson leaving – think that could be Pieters on a free, then he could move Santon to RB if Debuchy got injured. I think Colo may well leave in the summer and well loose Xisco and Ranger – which I think he’ll replace with just 1 player and allow Campbell to progress. That 1 could be Carroll, PEA or RVW and Colo replacement could be Douglas on a free. Not that I’ve given it much thought 😆 could be miles out tho 🙄

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  48. Wenger was whingeing earlier about the toon signing so many players in this transfer window. At least we paid the wedge ffs.
    What pees me off is clubs loaning players to get them out of the cack. Now that is immoral. Sturridge at Bolton and Adebayor at Spurs spring to mind. Loaning is just a quick and unfair fix to get a club through a tricky situation without spending too much money…

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  49. Terry your right poor Jabba gets all the blame, just a pity he didn’t strengthen when he should have instead of whoring SD around rangers 😉
    Richie you have mail

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  50. Richie- do us a favor mate and stay off the internet during the next transfer window will ya- you may be our rabbit’s foot in that regard 😉

    As for Wegner, he can do one. I used to respect the hell out of the guy but all he does is whine anymore. His frustration is misplaced here anyway. Their revenues dwarf ours- he should be complaining to his owners for not giving him money not for us conducting quality business. I think he’s a bit miffed that we got players from france that he rated, just like how we took Cabaye from under his nose.

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