Newcastle United have completed the signing of Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer.
The defender has agreed a five-year contract with the Premier League club.
Kelly will join Newcastle on July 1. The Athletic reported that the club agreed a long-term deal with the 25-year-old, with his terms at Bournemouth set to expire on June 30.
Newcastle aimed to secure a deal for Kelly after missing out on their primary defensive target, Tosin Adarabioyo, who joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Fulham.
Despite interest from European clubs, Kelly chose to reunite with Eddie Howe, who initially brought him to Bournemouth from Bristol City in 2019.
Newcastle found Kelly’s versatility, playing both left-back and centre-back, particularly appealing. They had intended to sign both him and Tosin due to the ACL injuries sidelining Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.
Kelly departs Bournemouth after making 141 appearances across five years.
‘Lack of fee made Kelly an attractive option’
Analysis by Newcastle correspondent Chris Waugh
Centre-back is very much Newcastle’s priority position to strengthen this summer given the long-term knee injuries suffered by Lascelles and Botman.
Having missed out on Tosin Adarabioyo to Chelsea, Newcastle have been determined to secure Kelly’s signature, given he is someone Howe knows after taking the defender to Bournemouth in 2019, as well as the fact he is versatile and can play as a centre-half or left-back.
The lack of a transfer fee made Kelly an especially attractive option, with Newcastle needing to satisfy the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), as well as conduct significant incoming business. A goalkeeper is wanted — with talks having opened with Burnley for Trafford — while a right-sided forward and a striker are also being sought. Another defender may also be acquired.
(Photo by Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
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