Kieran Trippier has told the club’s official website why he has decided to join Newcastle United.
The transfer was officially announced on Friday morning, with the 31-year-old becoming the first signing of the new era.
He’s signed a two-and-a-half year deal with the Magpies, costing a reported £12million.
It will hopefully be the first of many signings this month, and Trippier’s arrival lays down a real marker. He’s a big name player coming from a Champions League club, so why on earth would he want to join Newcastle?

Well, the Magpies’ new number 15 has given his reasons.
Why has Kieran Trippier joined Newcastle?
“Since the start of the season there was rumours for me to leave Atletico Madrid,” he told the club’s official website.
“It didn’t happen so I committed myself, got my head down and worked hard. And then I spoke to the club about if something was available in January – and the club were fantastic with me to be fair at Atletico Madrid.
“Newcastle came available in January, and I’ve got personal reasons with my family and it was important that they were happy and settled with the decision. We thought it was a great opportunity to come to Newcastle.
“I know a few of the players, obviously the staff, and that made it an easier decision for me.”

Trippier was later asked about the new project at St James’ Park, and went into more detail about his decision to complete the move.
“You look at the club, you look at the fanbase – it’s a huge club. And now the project that’s happening now, it’s very exciting. And that’s another reason why I came here.”
Unsurprisingly no mention of money from Trippier
When Newcastle were taken over, the first argument from pundits was that players wouldn’t want to come to Newcastle.
Now that’s been proven wrong, the new narrative is that they’ll only come for money.
But Trippier didn’t mention pound coins as a motivation for his move to St James’ Park – unsurprisingly.

Of course he’ll have been motivated by money, but in the same way that every transfer is. If he’d only been offered a fiver a week to play, he never would have agreed.
But the reason Trippier is here appears to be down to his family. Newcastle have came around at the perfect time to give him a chance to return to England.
But not just any Newcastle, a new and ambitious Newcastle who plan to make huge waves in the footballing world.
That’s why Trippier has joined the Magpies, and it’s an absolute dream to see him sign on the dotted line.
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