Henri Saivet finally finds a new club after Newcastle United exit

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One year after leaving Newcastle United, Henri Saivet finally has a new club.

The midfielder was released by the Magpies last summer, signalling the end of a rotten five and a half years at St James’ Park.

Saivet barely featured in a Newcastle shirt, and it’s taken him almost 12 months to find a new team. But he’s done it now, and the 31-year-old will represent Pau FC next season.

They are a Ligue 2 side in France, and have just finished 10th in the second tier of French football. They were closer to the relegation zone than going up this season, ending the campaign with 49 points.

Saivet has signed a two-year contract with his new club. He will be managed by Didier Thalot, who Walsall fans might remember for a loan spell there in 1998.

The former Magpie was linked with a move to Greece at the start of the year, but that didn’t come to fruition. Now he’s finally got a new club, and can move on from his Newcastle United disaster.

Henri Saivet to Newcastle was a huge mistake

He was signed by Steve McClaren in January 2016, costing £5million from Bordeaux. He was part of a January haul that included Jonjo Shelvey, Andros Townsend and finally Seydou Doumbia. The fact that Saivet perhaps wasn’t the worst signing of the four says a lot about Doumbia’s time on Tyneside…

Saivet never seemed to settle at St James’ Park, barely getting a chance to justify his arrival. He made just four appearances during his first season, all of which came under Steve McClaren.

When he was replaced by Rafa Benitez, Saivet could barely even get on the bench. He started the season playing Europa League football with Bordeaux, and ended it being relegated with a team he had barely played for.

The Senegal international would have loan spells with Saint-Etienne, Sivasspor and Bursaspor, but spent his final two years as a Toon player rotting in the reserves.

His move to St James’ Park was an absolute disaster, but it will be remembered for one moment – that game against West Ham in 2017.

Saivet was handed his one and only league start under Benitez, and took his chance…kind of. He gave the ball away to hand West Ham the lead, but made up for it by scoring a brilliant free kick.

What a moment that was. Sadly, that was as good as it got for Saivet, who now has a new club after three years without a senior appearance. Good luck, Henri!