Newcastle United have announced the signing of Mohamed Diame from Hull City on a three-year-deal.
Rafael Benitez triggered the Senegalese international’s £4.5million release clause on Monday afternoon, completing the deal for Diame just two days later.
The newly-promoted Tigers did their best to keep Diame at KCOM Stadium by offering the midfielder a new contract, but the player saw the Magpies as a better prospect.
“Newcastle is a great club with a great history” – Diame
The midfielder spoke to Senegalese TV ahead of his switch to St James Park where he called the Magpies a “great club with a great history.”
Diame was “impressed by the solid project that Newcastle has to offer” that is being built by Rafael Benitez, a man whom he called “a great coach in the world.”
Benitez promised Diame that he will “set up a team worthy of the name” once the club is back in the Premier League. And the former West Ham man reacted further to NUFC TV revealing that joining Newcastle “is a great feeling.”
The ex-Clairefontaine youth product told that he is desperate to play Premier League football once again, but that contact from United made him think.
Diame is continuing to look to the future, and feels his top flight dream will come true once again with the Magpies: “Newcastle is a big name, a massive club and will be back in the Premier League, for sure."
Benitez on Diame signing
The loss of Georginio Wijnaldum and his goals from midfield left a void to fill in his squad and in Diame, Benitez believes he has signed a fine replacement: "Mohamed is a strong, attack-minded player with a lot of fight and determination to his game."
Diame scored 10 goals from midfield last season including the strike that sent Hull City back to the Premier League at the first attempt in the Play-Off final.
Benitez continued: "He is also someone who will provide the team with goals and assists from midfield. He has good experience of the Championship and the fight needed to win promotion, which will be important for us."
Fans may only have to wait till Friday to see Diame in Newcastle colours for the first time in their Championship opener against Fulham.