Newcastle United have officially confirmed the signing of Lewis Hall from Chelsea, who will move to St.James’ park on a year-long loan deal with an obligation to buy.
The obligation to buy clause, which will be met next summer if certain performance-related criteria are met, will see the Tyneside club pay their Premier League rivals an initial £28m, with a further £7m in potential add-ons.
Speaking on the move in an interview on Newcastle’s website, the Chelsea academy graduate stated: “I’m very proud. Me and my family are Newcastle fans, and for me and my brother growing up, it was drilled into us that we were Newcastle. It’s a big club and I can’t wait to get started.”
“I got a lot of experience last year in some big fixtures and I was really proud of the way I progressed as a player and a person. To now be here at Newcastle, the club that I’ve supported since I was a kid, I’m honoured and very proud to wear this shirt.
The experience the 18-year-old refers to came in his eight Premier League starts last season, where he stood out in a struggling Chelsea side- impressing with his endless energy and influence in both boxes.
Furthermore, Hall, who earned The Blues’ 2022/23 academy player of the year, has also shown this talent in youth competitions- accumulating 18 goal involvements in 48 appearances in the Premier League 2 and UEFA Youth League combined- performances which his new manager Eddie Howe will hope he can replicate over the coming seasons.
Capable of playing a vast number of positions, such as on the wing, left-back, left-wing-back, and central midfield, Hall has been described by Howe as a player of “quality, versatility, and high potential.”
Consequently, he is set to be a valuable addition in The Magpies’ squad side heading into the new season, as they look to bolster their squad depth in their preparation to compete in Champions League football for the first time since the 2002/03 season.
Travis Levison | Get Football
