Chelsea transfer news: Newcastle sign Christian Atsu on loan
Chelsea winger Christian Atsu has moved to Newcastle United on a season-long loan deal. Newcaslte have completed the signing of the 24-year-old player and the deal brings Atsu to St James Park with a clause included which allows the Magpies to make the deal a permanent move once the loan period ends.
The Magpies were on the lookout for a winger and Atsu fits the kind of player Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez wanted to bring into his squad this summer. Signing an additional winger was a priority for the Spanish manager especially after Rolando Aarons went down in their last league game and is expected to be out for a couple of months.
Atsu is far below in the pecking order under Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and does not feature in the Italian’s plans for the squad during the 2016-2017 campaign. As a result, he is headed out of Chelsea on a bid to gain regular first-team football.
Also Read: Official: Tottenham Hotspur swoop for £30m Sissoko leaving Everton furious
Atsu arrived at Chelsea from Porto in a £3.5m deal, in September 2013 on a five-year contract. The Ghana International however never made it to Chelsea’s first team since he moved to the Blues in 2013. Immediately after having signed for Chelsea Atsu was sent off on a loan deal to Vitesse Arnhem on a season-long loan deal.
The player then went on to spend similar loan spells at Everton, Bournemouth, and Malaga in the three years since his move to the Bridge and is now set to head to Newcastle for yet another loan spell. This time, however, there is a chance that the 24-year-old’s move will be made permanent, due to the inclusion of the clause.
The player has over 30 international caps for Ghana since his debut in 2012. Atsu was a part of the Ghana squad during the FIFA World Cup 2014 and during the two African Cup of Nations tournaments. He also went on to win Player of the Tournament and Goal of the tournament title during the 2015 African Cup of Nations tournament.
Also Read: Sky Bet Championship 2016-17: 10 things we've learnt from match day 5
Primarily a winger, Atsu can also play as an attacking midfielder and on the left wing. He possesses good pace in the wide areas and has already accumulated experience from four different clubs to bring with him to the St James’ Park.
The young winger is Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez’s 12th signing this summer, and hopefully, his move to Newcastle will help the player in reviving his stuttering career.