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. MDS., I reckon Wenger had his eyes on a couple of our signings and is pissed that we nabbed them early..

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  2. Mds….who do you thinks been doing all the negotiating 😉

    reet that’s me away, got a forward to sign 😆

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  3. Troy@178 less Ali, more Clint Eastwood’s 1000 yard stare.

    Sissoko looks as if he is going to be “The” signing, plus number 7 shirt. May as well just swagger back up into the top 8 this season and win the Europa Cup, and take it seriously next year 😆

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  4. I agree that we cant really afford to wait for PEA in the summer.
    If he wont come NOW, then we should go for Wolfyswinkel or Siem De Jong.
    Either way tho its gonna cost nearly £12M, which is a lot of loot and goes against the grain somewhat.
    Dont want anymore talk about Darren Bent tho please. I’d rather do without

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  5. Boots – yeah you’re right mate, I think MYM will also be a leader out there. I also like the look of this Sane CB were linked with, he looks like a big strong lad as well, good in the air and difficult to shove off the ball. Could see him and MYM forming a good partnership as well.

    MM – I think we had a big mistake not recruiting more players from the freebies available in the summer. Jason Puncheon is another that would be available – him in Obertan out would do me as well. I also think we need to have enough in to allow the likes of Sammi, Abied, Fergie and Tav to go out on loan – hopefully to Championship sides.

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  6. Richie I know your away now but it seems funny that we heard a few times last week that Jabba was going to get involved in player talks more, then within a few days we have 4 players in ? so has that got owt to do with it ?

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  7. Aussie- I agree on wenger. Shame on him then for planning on waiting for the summer. I think we’ve just shown that there are good deals to be had in January (not as many, but they are there)

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  8. Nah Dave, it had nothing to with Ashley- it was all due to Richie’s negotiating skills 😆

    Interesting though that Ashley felt the need to step in. Maybe not happy with Llambiase?

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  9. GFNFrance ?@GFN_France
    According to RMC, #SaintEtienne also rejected a €15m from #QPR for Pierre Emerick #Aubameyang.

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  10. PEA bids rejected according to Saint Ettiene press release. Claims all involved including agent and player unanimous decision.
    Time to cut our losses and move in for Wolfy now.

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  11. Just been ploughing the roads with my Landrover Freelander Mk1.

    I’ve customised it with a plough on the front and a salt spreader on the back.

    I’ve replaced the spare wheel on the back with a life ring.

    The locals are loving Troys assistance and appreciate the effort I’m putting in.

    Always of assistance. TS the countries 5th emergency service. 😛

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  12. Boots – re the clip, good find mate and Gouffran looks like he’ll score goals if played as a CF. Like the fact he’s comfortable striking the ball with either foot and a couple of headed goals in there as well. Looks very promising if we give him the service.

    Regarding PEA – I genuinely don’t think St Ettiene are playing games to run the price up, I think they want to keep him til at least the summer. PEA himself tweeted that he doesn’t want to leave until the summer either as I think they have a chance of winning some cup. I think it’s the press that’s muddying the waters on this one to be honest.
    Think it’s now down to the board to decide whether they are happy to wait to pursue PEA further in the summer, or do the want some in now.
    Personally, I’d go back for Thauvin for €4-5m and get Sane for a similar amount. There’s another €8-10m, we’ve spent about £11.5m already but made about £4m off Ba sale so that would make a net spend of around £15m this window – not bad at all.

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  13. Do you really want MORE French players Sharpy? We’ve already got about 10 capable of first team action! Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy with what we’ve got but the squad is in danger of becoming very unbalanced in the nationality department. I suppose if everyone’s French it rules out any possibility of a clique forming! 😯

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  14. There’s probably only room for one more foreign import anyway

    At the end of this transfer window we’ll need to name a revised 25 man squad for the rest of the season. Clubs aren’t allowed to name more than 17 non – homegrown players in their squad and we’ve already got 16:who are aged 21 or over:

    Debuchy, Santon, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Anita, Sissoko, Tiote, Jonas, HBA, Obertan, Cabaye, Marveaux, Amalfitano, Cisse, Gouffran, Xisco

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  15. Sharpy, now that Colo has comitted til the summer, I dont see us getting Sane until he leaves.
    I do think its a bit risky not getting in another striker tho.
    Fair dues to PEA, he has made a comitment to stay with St Ett. We should respect that and go for someone else.
    maybe

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  16. well all i know re jabba is a lad at benton said he had never seen jabba there for so long its normally just a flying vist for a hour or so,i think owlheed has been in the back ground a bit,would love to think he will get the push at seasons end plus it would not shock me to see pardew go the same way

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  17. dump xisco from that list Chris
    He wont be named if we can bring in another striker.

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  18. Ice, I’m not sure how much of a say Pardew has had in all these signings anyway. We all know what happened when KK was in charge. I’m not sure the managerial role has changed much TBH – which is one of the reasons I think Pardew’s job is safe. He seems happy enough being Fatty’s lapdog.

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  19. Yeah Limpbastad getting the boot would be awesome.
    I just cant see it happenning ‘if I’m honest’.
    He still has a lot to learn tho.

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  20. Ice- if DL and Pards get pushed out after the season I wouldn’t complain. Get a real D of F in plus a continental manager (Di Matteo?)

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  21. Rod – I understand what ya saying mate, if I’m honest no, but I’m basing it off who we’ve been linked with rather than who I’d like to see in.
    That said, I do think they are good players.

    BB – yeah you might be right mate, we were link more with Sane when Colo staying was still unclear. As I said earlier, it could be that we look to sign Douglas on a free in the summer instead. I just don’t want to accept that Sissoko could be the end of our recruitment drive this window 🙁

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  22. QPR losing to MK Dons. 😆
    I hear Remy has pulled a hammy 😯
    Perhaps we dodged a bullet there after all 😆
    Nice one ‘Arry 😳

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  23. Dont want Dougal in the summer or ever if I’m honest.
    I want players that jump at the chance to come here, like our French Lads have done.
    Dougal has had his chance and blew it imo.
    I’d rather take a chance on Sane instead anyway.

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