RismadarVoice Reporters, September 1, 2026
Newcastle United have completed the signing of Belgian forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from French club Lille for an initial fee of £51.4 million.
The 21-year-old arrived on Tyneside on Monday for his medical before signing a long-term contract with the Premier League club.
Fernandez-Pardo said he was pleased to join Newcastle after discussions with head coach Matthias Jaissle convinced him the move was the right step for his career.
“I am very proud to be at such a big club. The coach showed how much he wanted me to be here, and it made complete sense for my career progression,” the Belgium international said.
The forward had been a long-term target for Newcastle and fits the club’s strategy of recruiting young players with significant potential. He was left out of Lille’s squad for their recent 2-2 draw against Paris Saint-Germain and trained separately while his future was being decided.
Fernandez-Pardo enjoyed a strong campaign in France last season, ranking among the top young players in Europe’s major leagues for attacking contributions. He recorded impressive numbers for goals, assists, shots on target and touches inside the opposition box.
His ability to operate across several positions in the forward line was also a key factor in Newcastle’s decision to pursue the deal.
Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle described the new signing as a technically gifted player with pace, creativity and the ability to create scoring opportunities.
“Matias is a highly technical player with explosiveness in his game. He can score and assist, has courage, and can take players on,” Jaissle said.
Fernandez-Pardo becomes one of Newcastle’s major investments as the club continues to strengthen its squad and build around younger talents ahead of the new season.
