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Nolberto Solano SignsFrom the BBC: Nolberto Solano has completed a move back to Newcastle from Aston Villa for a fee believed to be £1.5m. Peruvian international midfielder Solano, 30, left St James' Park for Villa in January 2004 for the same fee. James Milner will move the opposite way on a season-long loan to help fill the void left at Villa by Solano's exit. Solano, who had also been linked with Liverpool, has signed a two-year deal with Newcastle having the option to extend it by another 12 months. "It's great to be back at Newcastle and I hope we can have a really successful season here," said Solano. Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd said the club's fans were behind the decision to bring back Solano. "We know the fans really wanted Nobby back at Newcastle and we listened to what they had to say. We listened - and now we've delivered," he told the club website. "He's an adopted Geordie and it's great to have him back. He loves the area, the club and the fans, and they love him too." The right midfielder will not be immediately available to manager Graeme Souness as he has two games of a three-match ban to serve following his sending-off for Villa against Portsmouth.
Newcastle Sign Michael OwenFrom the BBC: England forward Michael Owen has signed for Newcastle for a club record fee. Owen, who passed a medical on Tuesday and agreed a four-year deal, joins from Real Madrid for £17m - beating the £15m Newcastle paid for Alan Shearer. The 25-year-old was keen to rejoin Liverpool but the Reds, who sold him to Madrid for £8m, refused to meet Real's asking price for the player. Magpies boss Graeme Souness said: "I'm absolutely delighted. He was our first choice. The supporters will love him." Owen added: "I spoke to Liverpool and unfortunately that deal couldn't come off. "That's life. Deals sometimes happen, sometimes they don't. All I can do now is look to the future with Newcastle and hope to do well in this black and white shirt. "I've had a bit of a head-spinning couple of days. There were three great clubs in the frame but the further it got towards the deadline the more it became clear Newcastle was going to be my destination. "At the end of it all I thought the best for my future was to move to Newcastle. "I have been honest all along. Just like Alan Shearer said he had a decision to make when he moved here in 1996, I have had a similar decision to make. It was a great decision to have to make - Real Madrid, Newcastle or Liverpool. "If the Liverpool deal could have been done that would have been a big option, but in the end it came down to Real Madrid or Newcastle and there was no question I wanted to return to the Premiership. "I want to play football, I love the Premiership, I've missed it while I've been away. "It may be unfortunate for Liverpool fans that I am not there, but hopefully it is fortunate for Newcastle fans that I am here." An estimated 20,000 Newcastle fans turned up at St James' Park to witness Owen signing for the club. He was joined by his daughter in a Newcastle strip and arrived on the pitch with Shepherd and Souness. Owen was delighted with his Tyneside welcome, adding: "I've never seen anything like that." Reports said Owen has a clause allowing him to leave after a year, but Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd denies this. "I have heard a little rumour that Michael has a clause in his contract which states he can leave Newcastle United in one year's time," he said. "I can tell you now that he hasn't. Of course Michael has clauses in his contract. "In this day and age, all top players do - Alan Shearer does. But that is not one of them. "We promised our supporters that we would sign a top-class striker and we have exceeded every expectation by signing Michael from Real Madrid on a four-year contract," added Shepherd. Owen admitted Shearer had played a major part in his decision to move to the north-east. "He's been a good friend for a long time," he said. "It's his last season here and it will be an honour to play with him. "He shares a lot of the same interests as I do and he was one of a few reasons to join." "Alan was one of a few reasons why I came here, but so was the chairman's desire to get me here and the manager's desire to get here." Shearer had even offered Owen his number nine shirt for this season. But he said: "I would never have taken it off him. The gesture was unbelievable. "We will see what happens at the end of season but I have been number 10 all of my professional career. "Following Shearer is not easy. I can only guarantee I will give 100%, score as many goals as I can, but help the team win as many games as possible." Souness added: "The chairman nearly fell off his seat when I handed him a piece of paper saying this was the man I wanted. "There are few people capable of filling Alan Shearer's shirt, but Michael is one of them. "Our fans will love him because he's an honest lad and a world-class goalscorer, and he will be great in the dressing room. "It was great before but it will be even better now - we've really done the business with this one."
Jermaine Jenas Signs For SpursFrom the BBC: Jermaine Jenas has completed his £7m move from Newcastle to Spurs. The 22-year-old was released from England duty on Tuesday to undergo a medical and ensure the switch was completed before the transfer deadline. "I enjoyed the 12 months I spent working with JJ," Newcastle boss Graeme Souness said. "I'm sorry he didn't see his long-term future with us. We didn't want him to leave, but he's a big boy and it was his choice." Souness added: "He has made his decision, and everyone at this club from the chairman down wishes him all the best in his career at Tottenham Hotspur." Jenas said he wanted to leave Newcastle as he felt he was living "in a goldfish bowl. Following the move, he said: "This is a great move for me. I am aiming to win things and with the players already at the club I am sure I can realise this ambition." Spurs boss Martin Jol said: "You know our philosophy, we want young players at this club and if they are already internationals like Jermaine it is always a very good thing for us. "We have Paul Robinson, Ledley King, Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe - Jermaine Jenas will be our fifth England international. "I think Jermaine will be a big addition to our group and will develop into a great player." The Magpies have been resigned to lose Jenas since he admitted he was unhappy at St James' Park, even though he started the season in the team. Arsenal had also been linked with Jenas, but boss Arsene Wenger insisted he had no interest in the midfield man. |
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NUFC News Archive (September 1st 2005)
