Newcastle sign Fernandez-Pardo from Lille for £51M on deadline day

Newcastle United completed the signing of Belgian forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, finalizing a transfer worth £51 million on the final day of the summer window. The 21-year-old has agreed to a five-year contract and will wear the number 20 shirt, becoming the club's eighth senior signing of the transfer period.

The deal was confirmed after Fernandez-Pardo traveled to Tyneside and completed a medical examination. The transfer fee, which equates to approximately 60 million euros, represents the fifth most expensive acquisition in Newcastle's history. This latest addition takes the club's total summer spending beyond £260 million, following a significant squad overhaul that saw the departures of key players like Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Anthony Gordon.

Head coach Mathias Jaissle expressed his satisfaction with the new arrival, highlighting the player's technical ability and versatility. "Matias is a highly technical player with explosiveness in his game who can both score goals and provide assists for teammates," Jaissle stated. He added that Fernandez-Pardo possesses "real courage" and the ability to take on defenders directly.