Dedic signs for Newcastle: the reunion story behind the deal

The reunion that made the deal

Dedic and Matthias Jaissle worked together at RB Salzburg, and when Newcastle came calling this summer, that existing relationship was the deciding factor. The Guardian reports that the prospect of reuniting with Jaissle was central to Dedic's decision to leave Benfica, giving this transfer a personal dimension that goes beyond the fee.

It is not the most common reason a player picks a club. Usually it is project, wages, or geography. Here, it was a manager.

Straight into the XI

At 24, Dedic arrives as a ready-made starter rather than a project. Newcastle are expected to hand him an immediate place in the side, which means he could be lining up at St James' Park in their next home fixture. For a right-back position that has needed reinforcing, this is the kind of signing that changes a team's shape from the first weekend.

Six and counting

Dedic is Newcastle's sixth summer signing, and at £29.5m he is not a cheap one. Six signings and £29.5m on a right-back alone: Jaissle is being backed in his first window. He has his squad taking shape, and a player who already knows exactly how his manager wants to play is rarely a bad place to start.