Newcastle United have signed talented midfielder Amadou Diallo after a successful trial period at the club. While he may be an unknown to fans, the teenager has some prestigious alumni from his England youth appearances.
The 19-year-old, who predominantly plays from the left flank, had been with the club on trial since the start of the month. This followed his summer exit from West Ham United.
He featured in a Premier League 2 clash against Middlesbrough earlier this month and is set to slot straight into the team’s under-21 side.
Newcastle United “delighted” to sign teenager
Speaking to the official Newcastle United website, Diallo said he was “delighted” after signing a deal until the end of the season.
Former Newcastle United goalkeeping hero and current academy director Steve Harper was effusive in his praise of the new signing.
“We are delighted that Amadou is joining us until the end of the season,” said Harper.
“He has performed well over his extended trial period. His signing gives us increased options in wide areas in the under-21 group.”
Diallo, who has played for England at various different youth levels. He has two caps as an U-15, 10 at U-16 level and seven as an U-17. As an under-16 he has two goals to his name and has scored three as an U-17 player.
His time with the U-17s even saw him captain the side to a 4-2 win over Russia in 2020, a game in which he scored.
Fast-tracked alongside Jamal Musiala and Jude Bellingham
During his time with the England youth set-up he was a regular team-mate of future Germany international Jamal Musiala and current England star Jude Bellingham.
In fact, as detailed in a 2021 Daily Mail interview with England youth coach Kevin Betsy, Diallo was fast-tracked up the international youth system. At age 13 he was told he was being accelerated into the U-15 team early. This was alongside Musiala, Bellingham and former Celtic talent Karamoko Dembele
When he made his England U-15 debut, he partnered Bellingham in central-midfield. Musiala, meanwhile, scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Belgium.
For whatever reason, despite this early promise, Diallo was let go by West Ham in the summer. A subsequent trial period at Chelsea also failed to earn him a new deal.
Newcastle United technical director Dan Ashworth will be aware of Diallo from his time as FA Director of Elite Development. The hope is Newcastle can get Diallo just close to being back on the same pathway as Musiala and Bellingham. If that happens, then Newcastle have just found themselves an absolute bargain.
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