Steve McClaren appointed as Newcastle United boss

Newcastle United have confirmed Steve McClaren as their new manager.

The 54-year-old has twice turned down the Magpies this year but will now take charge ahead of next season, McClaren was at St James' Park on Wednesday and met with managing director Lee Charnley and chief scout Graham Carr to finalize the terms of a three-year deal, which could be extended to eight years.



He has also been installed on the club's new-look board of directors alongside Charnley and Carr and club ambassador Bob Moncur. Owner Mike Ashley has stepped down from the board but retains complete control of the club.

McClaren said: 'I am privileged to be appointed head coach of Newcastle United FC. This is a big club with a wonderful heritage, 'St. James' Park is like a cathedral on a Saturday afternoon, a symbol for the city and I am excited to be given this opportunity.

'I know how important Newcastle United is to the city and the region.

'The supporters are some of the most loyal, passionate and devoted in the world. Despite everything they maintain their faith. We owe it to them to do everything we can to reward them with success.

'This club has waited far too long to win a trophy. That's one of my primary objectives here.

'I've already won trophies as a manager, and a club the size of Newcastle United should be winning cups and finishing in the top eight in the Premier League, 'I'm determined to give the supporters of Newcastle United a team they can be proud of.

'The hard work starts now.'

Newcastle confirm signing of Aleksandar Mitrovic from Anderlecht

Newcastle United have signed the striker Aleksandar Mitrovic on a five-year deal from Anderlecht, hhe 20-year-old arrives subject to receiving the appropriate visa in a deal the club claims is the fourth biggest in their history.

The Serbia international said: “There will be pressure here, for sure, but I like pressure. I also know about the famous players who have played for Newcastle United, like Alan Shearer who is a hero of mine. I hope I can play like him for this club. It will be an honour.

“I am so happy to have signed for Newcastle. I visited the stadium yesterday and it’s amazing. I have played in a lot of impressive stadiums in my career but St. James’ Park is so big, I can’t wait to play my first game here.

“I know how passionate the fans are. This is a club with a very big history and the fans are a big part of that.



Mitrovic follows the PSV Eindhoven midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum to St James’ Park and the head coach Steve McClaren believes they have pulled off a coup.

“I think this is a fantastic signing for us. We’ve fought off a lot of competition to secure a top young talent in Europe, Aleksandar is someone who can develop with the team and someone who will help us to get to where we want to go"

“As a board we have worked hard to make it happen. It’s another demonstration that we are wanting to push on.””

Our pre season preparations got underway in Singapore where we stayed for five days, but only played the one match and that was against the current champions Home Utd, it was a comfortable 5-2 win thanks to a brace Andros Townsend while Doumbia, Wijnaldum and Rolando Aarons also got on the scoresheet.

up next was a trip to Austria where we payed the two biggest clubs in the country, first up was Salzburg, who are currently mid season and alt fitter than us, and it showed as they ran out 3-1 winners, Siem De Jong got our only goal of the game, a 0-0 draw with Austria Vienna followed up that result with both teams unable to break the deadlock.

Carlisle from League two was up next, a very confident performance from the boys helped us to 3-1 win, goals to Marveaux, Mitrovic and Riviere sent us on our way

St James Park would host the biggest match of our pre season plans, Valencia were in town, Andros Townsend gave us the lead on 5 minutes with a powerful effort that beat Matty Ryan at his neat post, but Valencia would turn the match on its head with 10 minutes remaining, Santi Mina bagging a brace to send the Valencia back home with a big confidence boost.

Canada was next on the agenda for the much traveled toon fans, and they witnessed some great finishing from the Newcastle frontmen, Seydou Doumbia grabbed himself a brace, Wijnaldum also got himself on the scoresheet.

We finished our pre season matches against feeder club Gateshead and were never troubled, Mbemba got himself on the scoresheet twice, Tiote, Mitrovic and Colback were also able to score in a very easy 5-0 win

It all kicks off with an away game at Stamford Bridge against the current holders, Chelsea will be keen to prove to everyone that they are not a one season wonder, the pressure is really on Guus Hiddink to get it right from the start, this is also the perfect platform for Newcastle to build if they can manage to get at least a point from this game

our first home game of the season is a match against the bookies favourite for the Premier League this season, there will be a full house at St James Park and they'll be expecting a good performance

We then travel to Goodison Park to face an Everton side who will be looking to prove a few doubters wrong this season, can Martinez finally find a way to get the best out of the Merseyside club

Arsenal are our last fixture for the month, the londoners will prove a very tough test, Newcastles defence will have to be on their games to stop Alexis Sanchez and Co.

Newcastle United have completed the signing of Ajax and Holland defender Joel Veitman after both clubs agreed on a fee believed to be around $12m including add-ons, after completing his medical today at Benton training headquarters.

Veltman began his football career in the youth teams of VV IJmuiden in his home town of Velsen, before moving to AFC Ajax in 2001, where he went through the youth ranks of the club. While playing for the Ajax A1 youth squad in 2011–12, Veltman helped his side to win the Nike Eredivisie league title, as well finishing as runners-up to Inter Milan in the NextGen Series (the Champions League equivalent for under-20 teams) after losing on penalties (5–3) following a 1–1 deadlock after extra time.
He made his official debut for the Ajax first team on August 19, 2012, in the away match against N.E.C. in Nijmegen, coming on as a substitute for Mitchell Dijks in the 79th minute. The match ended in a 1–6 win for the Amsterdam side.

Following a successful starting season with the first team of Ajax, helping his side to secure their third consecutive national title and his personal first, on 6 June 2013 it was announced that Veltman had extended his contract with Ajax for another four years, binding him to the club until the summer of 2017.

"As soon as i heard about the interest from Newcastle i told Frank (De Boer) i wanted to leave, I spoke to Gini (Wijnaldum) about the club, he told me about the supporters, and the city's love for football", so im really happy to be here"." I cannot wait to put on the black and white strip and help this club progress to where they want to go" he added.

Joel Veltman has yet to link up with the rest of the squad, he'll watch them train today and he'll have his first session with his new teammates tomorrow/