Official announcement reveals surprise terms of Newcastle deal

Sat 14 October 2017 15:45, UK

By Russell Edge

Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino’s loan move from Borussia Dortmund was turned into a permanent one after he made just seven appearances for the club.

While the Magpies confirmed that they had secured the 21-year-old on a five-year deal on both their official Twitter account and official website, there was no mention of whether it was a decision made by the club or whether it had been triggered automatically.

BREAKING: He's staying!
We've activated an option to buy @mikelmerino1, meaning he completes a permanent move with immediate effect. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/kacz9PxNcY
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 13, 2017

View Tweet

However the midfielder’s former side revealed in their announcement of his departure on their official website that the move had gone through after the terms of the loan agreement had been met.

It was revealed that Merino needed to make just seven appearances for Newcastle United for the deal to go through, which will surprise many after he has impressed in his debut season in the Premier League.

He has appeared in all of the club’s league games this season, having appeared just nine times in the entirety of his career at Dortmund.

Football Insider verdict

Everything about Merino’s deal seems to have been a masterstroke by Newcastle, having secured one of the brightest young talents seen in a black and white shirt in recent times. Watching the youngster in action, there should have been very little doubt that he would succeed in the English top flight, demonstrating all the qualities needed to compete at the highest level. His dynamism, vision and energy in the centre of the park have all been key to Newcastle’s success, and the club have snatched up a quality player from right under Dortmund’s nose. Whoever was in charge of the terms of the loan deal on Tyneside deserves a massive round of applause.