Newcastle United acquire their fifth summer signing

Newcastle United have announced their fifth signing of the summer transfer window with Yoshinori Muto joining them from Mainz. The Japan international had agreed to join the Magpies earlier in the week but an announcement was put on hold until he was assured of a work permit to feature for Rafael Benitez’s side.

Muto told the club’s official website: “As the first Japanese Newcastle United player, I am honoured to be a player for such a big club. I hope to achieve good results – that is what I am here to do. I would like to perform well and leave my name in Newcastle’s history.”Meanwhile, manager Rafael Benitez was also pleased with the signing of Muto, who is expected to add more competition upfront, he added: “I am really pleased to have Yoshinori Muto with us. We were following him for quite a while. Hopefully he can bring us his energy and work-rate and help the team to improve and be better for the new season.”

Benitez has once more had a tough transfer window where owner Mike Ashley has allocated a restricted budget but he can take positives from the fact that the club have retained a couple of loan players from last term. Both Kenedy and Martin Dubravka were influential on temporary deals during the second half of the previous campaign and the Magpies have now managed to retain the pair – with the former joining on a season-long loan this time around.

Aside from them, Newcastle United have also landed the services of Ki Sung-Yueng and Fabian Schar this summer and they should add the additional strength in the midfield and defensive departments ahead of the 2018/19 campaign. Newcastle have probably the most difficult schedule among the 20 Premier League sides as they face Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester City in their opening four games of the new season.