Bazoumana Touré has completed a £43m move to Newcastle from Hoffenheim. The 20-year-old Côte d’Ivoire winger is Eddie Howe’s second signing of the summer after the former Reims goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen.
- Bazoumana Touré expected to fill boots vacated by Anthony Gordon, who joined Barcelona.
- Bazoumana Touré played three of Côte d'Ivoire's four World Cup games after impressing in the Bundesliga.
- Bazoumana Touré said the move fulfills a long-standing ambition and he's excited to play at St James' Park.
- Eddie Howe described him as a player with a really high ceiling, offering something different and plenty of potential to unlock.
- Newcastle seek midfield cover for Sandro Tonali and a new goalkeeper; targets include James Trafford and Johan Manzambi.
While Jaouen is expected to start the season as the club’s second-choice keeper, Touré seems destined to fill the boots vacated by Anthony Gordon when the England winger departed for Barcelona in May.
Touré, who played in three of Côte d’Ivoire’s four games at the World Cup finals tournament after impressing in the Bundesliga last season and has been dubbed “the Smiling Tornado”, described his arrival at St James’ Park as fulfilling a long-standing ambition.
“I’m very, very, happy to be here,” he said. “It was my dream since I was young to play in the Premier League for a big team like Newcastle.
“I will give my best every single day for this shirt. I’m very excited and can’t wait to meet my new teammates … and I’m also very excited to play at St James’ Park for the first time.”
Howe said: “We feel Bazoumana is a player with a really high ceiling. He’s somebody who we believe can offer us something different. He’s also got a lot of potential to unlock.”
Newcastle’s manager remains in the market for both a central midfield replacement for Sandro Tonali, who is set to join Tottenham for £100m, and a new first-choice goalkeeper.
Manchester City’s James Trafford remains high on his wish list in the latter category while in midfield Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi is a player much coveted by Newcastle. Howe, though, accepts he is likely to have to overcome considerable competition if he is to win the race to sign the Freiburg midfielder.
Newcastle, meanwhile, remain determined to retain their Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimarães in the face of growing interest from Arsenal.
