Connect with us

Championship

Ritchie signs for Toon in £12m deal

Former Swindon and Pompey man moves to St James’s Park with Andros Townsend reuniting with Pardew at Crystal Palace

By Peter Westwood

Matt Ritchie has completed a move from Bournemouth to Championship new boys Newcastle United for a fee of £12m.

Ritchie began his journey to Tyneside yesterday morning to hold talks with Rafa Benitez and has since agreed terms, signed his contract and completed his medical to become Newcastle’s third signing of the summer.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to come to a football club like this,” said Ritchie, who is a straightforward replacement for Andros Townsend who has left St James’s Park to join Alan Pardew at Crystal Palace for £13m.

“I loved it at Bournemouth – I had a fantastic time there and it had a huge impact on my career. But when a club like Newcastle comes calling, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.

“It’s fantastic to be here and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of getting the club back in the Premier League.”

Boss Benitez added: “We have been following some wingers for a while and Matt was one of the best prospects for this team.

“He has great ability and pace, and as soon as we knew that Andros Townsend could be leaving, our priority was to finalise this deal.

“We have signed an exciting winger who has experience in the Championship but has also proved that he can step up to the top level. I am delighted that he is now part of our squad.

Ritchie joined Bournemouth from Swindon Town for £500,000 in 2013, having come through the academy at Portsmouth in his early career.

Related Topics
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

PETER CKLAMOVSKI

The League Paper

LEADERBOARD

The League Paper

FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2026-27

Tackle the News

- Sign Up for our weekly Football League Newsletter Today!
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Best Betting Sites at Betinireland.ienew-UK-football-betting-sites-banner

Online Casinos

More in Championship

  •

    A ‘SOFT’ CALL ON GOAL – GAFFER

    MARGINS: Alex Neil ALEX NEIL felt Tairyk Arconte’s disallowed goal was ‘soft’ but conceded that Blackburn’s ‘clinical’ finishing was the difference, for his losing Millwall side. The Guadeloupe international saw a goal disallowed, with the score at 2-1, after guiding in Jake Cooper’s flick-on at the near-post. He remained undeterred,...

  •

    DIONISI’S HORNETS FEELING THE PACE

    By Gary Beveridge WATFORD 1 Nabizada 90+1 STOKE CITY 2 McGlynn 45+4, Bocat 57 TOP DAY OUT: Stoke players and fans celebrate Eric Bocat’s winner PICTURES: Alan Cozzi ALESSIO Dionisi watched his Watford side slump to their first home league defeat of the season and insisted: “My players are tired.”...

  •

    MORE RAMS HOME MISERY

    BLOW: Eustace DERBY head coach John Eustace suffered another frustrating result on home soil as Birmingham City’s win followed the midweek defeat to West Brom. “I thought we were excellent in large parts of the game against a very competitive team,” said Eustace. “Really disappointed in the two goals we...

  •

    DAVIES’ DELIGHT AT GRITTY BLUES

    Brum hit back for victory By Nigel Gardner DERBY COUNTY 1 Clark 40 BIRMINGHAM CITY 2 Vicente 42, Seung-ho 64 STAR MAN LIAM MILLAR Birmingham BIRMINGHAM manager Chris Davies believes his team are heading in the right direction after they fought back to win at Derby. Bobby Clark put Derby...