Newcastle United and Arsenal both completed £34m deals on Thursday, with the Magpies landing Monaco midfielder Aladji Bamba and the Gunners confirming the signing of Greece forward Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge.
Bamba, 20, is due on Tyneside for a medical and to sign a long-term contract after Newcastle agreed a fee that could rise to £34m. The Frenchman, who made only 12 competitive starts for Monaco, ranked in the top five among Ligue 1 midfielders for duels won (9.1 per game), tackles (3.6), successful take-ons (1.6) and aerial duels won (1.9) last season.
“Newcastle and Arsenal each complete £34m deals for young talents Bamba and Tzolis.”
The move underlines a marked shift in Newcastle's transfer strategy. After spending £55m on 29-year-old forward Yoane Wissa last summer, the club are now targeting players aged 20 and under. Bamba becomes the fourth signing of the window for Newcastle, following 18-year-old Sean Steur from Ajax, as well as Ewen Jaouen and Bazoumana Toure.
Negotiations were carried out discreetly, with news of the agreement emerging only as Bamba was travelling to Newcastle. The club sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham last month and had missed out on another target, Freiburg's Johan Manzambi, who joined Aston Villa.
Arsenal, meanwhile, announced the arrival of Tzolis on a five-year contract for £34m. The Greece international is the club's third summer signing. The deal was confirmed as the north London side continue their rebuild under Mikel Arteta, though the club are also dealing with an extended injury layoff for defender William Saliba due to a back problem.
Both clubs will hope their new recruits can make an immediate impact, though Bamba, like Newcastle's other young signings, may need time to adapt to the Premier League's physicality and intensity.
