Newcastle have smashed the club record fee for the second transfer window in a row with the signing of Joelinton from German side Hoffenheim. The Brazilian forward joins the Magpies for a fee believed to be in the region of £40 million, meaning he exceeds the amount Newcastle spent on Miguel Almiron last January.
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce on the move has said:
“The kid’s got an exciting time ahead of him. He’s a smashing young player and we’re obviously delighted to get him. It’s been going on for a little bit now, so to get him is great for everybody. He’s hot everything that a modern-day player wants. He’s big, strong and athletic, and of course he’s got age on his side too which is vitally important.”
Player History
Joelinton started his still relatively short career at Brazilian outfit Sport Recife. He joined the club when he was just 14 years old and continued there until breaking into the first team in 2014 at the age of 17. He spent two years in and around the first team playing 39 games in all competitions, scoring 7.
Brazil u17s then picked up on him and he played four times for them and grabbed two goals in the process. This form earned him a move to Hoffenheim but he initially struggled to get into the first team. He played just once in his first season at the club and was eventually sent out on loan to Austrian side Rapid Vienna for two seasons.
In his first season there he scored a respectable 13 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions, two goals and ten matches of which coming in the Europa League. His second season in Austria was less successful with just eight goals in 31 matches and no more European football under his belt.
He returned to Hoffenheim at the beginning of last season and would’ve been in the situation of last chance saloon there. In his first game since coming back he scored a hat-trick in the German Cup, and that performance cemented his place in the team for the season.
Whilst he was away, Hoffenheim managed to qualify for the Champions League and Joelinton was there to reap the rewards. He played in five out of the six group games including twice against the Premier League champions, Man City. He managed to score the solitary Champions League goal, notching a last minute equaliser in their home fixture against Lyon.
He’d go on to make 35 appearances in all competitions scoring eleven and setting up a further nine, in his most impressive season to date. Since his four u17 caps for Brazil he hasn’t had a call up of any kind, so a move to England’s top flight will surely be what he needs to kick on. It has worked for the likes of Richarlison, who is now a Brazil regular.
Fantasy Football Potential
Newcastle have been linked with the forward for a couple of weeks but the price tag on him made the Newcastle fans believe the deal couldn’t be done. However Mike Ashley finally got his wallet out and splashed the cash on their replacement for Solomon Rondon and/or Ayoze Perez.
With these two departing St James’ Park, there was a striker position up got grabs, with only Yoshinori Muti being a recognised striker at the club. There’s no doubt with the lack of strikers and the money they’ve spent on him, that he will be the main man for the Toon Army next season, which could bring some good FPL value.
With a price of £6.0m, he could be a decent differential if Bruce can get his men playing some good football. Almiron’s form will certainly play a part as to how well Joelinton will get on in his first taste of Premier League football. I wouldn’t risk the investment yet as he hasn’t had the greatest of scoring records and is currently unproven in the Premier League.
Written by Harry Clark (@HarryClark_)
