Eddie Howe has publicly shared his delight that Newcastle United have officially signed Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest for a fee of £55m.
At last, the Magpies have made a major addition to the first-team squad after almost two years since the last signing.
The likes of William Osula and Odysseas Vlachodimos have joined since Lewis Hall’s arrival on loan in 2023, but this deal signifies the first signing Newcastle United have made which immediately improves their starting XI.
After a deal was agreed on Monday, Newcastle moved quickly and got Anthony Elanga onto Tyneside for his medical. Fans had to wait days for the next update, waiting for his signing to finally be announced. Eddie Howe has been eyeing a move for Elanga for over a year now. Newcastle had a deadline day bid rejected for Elanga in 2024, and secret negotiations during the January transfer window were stopped when Nottingham Forest asked for Jacob Murphy in return.
Now, with Elanga officially a Newcastle player, Howe has commented on what he thinks about the deal.
Eddie Howe ecstatic after Anthony Elanga joins Newcastle United
Elanga shared his excitement about playing for Newcastle in his first interview with the club. He will be linking up with fellow international teammate Alexander Isak and good friend Osula on Tyneside, so there is a lot to be excited about for him and the fans.
Howe feels exactly the same. The 47-year-old has finally got the top-quality winger he has been so desperate for since joining Newcastle in 2021 after so many setbacks.
Speaking on Newcastle’s website, Howe said: “I’m delighted to welcome Anthony to Newcastle United. He has been a key target for us so I’m delighted to secure him at this early part of pre-season.
“He is an exciting talent with attributes that make him a unique attacking threat. His pace, energy and ability to create and score goals will strengthen us and complement the way we want to play.
“Anthony is hungry to develop even further with us and to achieve success here, and we’re all looking forward to working with him.”
Like Howe, many fans are buzzing that Elanga has signed. They have seen his potential elsewhere and know that the Newcastle manager will be eager to get the most out of him.
- Who is Anthony Elanga? Newcastle United’s brand new £55m winger
Anthony Elanga brings Champions League experience to Newcastle United
With Elanga now a Newcastle player, the focus will now shift to other positions that are in need of improvement ahead of a busy season.
Geordie Boot Boys understands Elanga has signed a five-year deal with the Magpies.
Newcastle qualified for the Champions League on the final day of the Premier League season, taking the final spot away from Aston Villa and Forest. Elanga helped Forest stay in the Champions League spots for most of the 2024/25 campaign, but slipped out of it in the final few games.
Though he has not played in it for a few years, Elanga brings experience of playing Champions League football to Newcastle. He burst onto the scene at Manchester United in 2021 and was a big part of their Champions League campaign that season.
Additionally, Elanga was part of the Man United squad that beat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final in 2023 and was a runner-up in the 2020/21 Europa League.
With the Champions League on the horizon, Howe can be safe knowing that his new signing has already experienced those nights and will surely be able to handle the pressure.
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