Newcastle United completed their second transaction of the summer by signing Ki Sung-yueng on Friday evening.
Newcastle United announced their second signing of the summer as they finalized a two-year deal with Ki Sung-yueng. The South Korean international became a free agent after his former club, Swansea City, were relegated last season.
Several clubs expressed interest in the defensive midfielder, but it was Rafa Benitez who beat the competition to add more depth to his roster. The Spaniard in charge held Ki in high regard on Friday as he praised the South Korean’s quality and experience.
Experience playing football at a high level is a key reason why this signing makes sense for Newcastle. Ki brings to Newcastle over 160 appearances in the Premier League. This experience and adaptability to English football will bode well for the Magpies in midfield as the back-ups for Mohamed Diame and Jonjo Shelvey are youngsters.
In addition to his experience playing in England, Ki has also represented South Korea in two World Cup tournaments. Having this experience will only benefit Newcastle as the current roster lacks exposure at the international level.
Merino Replacement or Potential Starter?
Several players have been linked with moves to and away from Newcastle this summer. One such player who has been at the center of several rumors is Mikel Merino. According to reports from various media outlets, Merino is close to signing a contract with Real Sociedad.
Newcastle supporters were optimistic that Merino would blossom into a young star for the Magpies, but the Spaniard lacked consistency. Merino failed to live up to expectations as he eventually lost his starting job to Mohamed Diame.
Ki now comes to Tyneside with two options. Ki could simply provide more depth to a young roster by creating more internal competition in training. His second option is to come in with the objective of ousting Diame from his role as a starter alongside Shelvey.
During his time with Swansea City, Ki showed flashes of great quality, but lacked consistency across multiple seasons. Under the guidance of Benitez, Ki will develop new skills, but will also feel the pressure to perform.
Only time will tell how quickly Ki will settle into the lineup for Newcastle. Having served his nation as the captain, Ki’s maturity and smart decisions on the ball should make him a contender to start over Diame in most matches.