Lewis Hall: Newcastle sign Chelsea defender on loan before permanent deal next summer - BBC Sport
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Lewis Hall: Newcastle sign Chelsea defender on loan before permanent deal next summer

Last updated on .From the section Newcastlecomments546

Lewis Hall poses for photos wearing a home shirt and scarf at St. James' Park
Hall will wear the number 20 shirt at Newcastle

Newcastle United have signed 18-year-old Chelsea defender Lewis Hall on loan and will make the deal permanent next summer.

The England Under-21 international made his Premier League debut for Chelsea in a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle in November.

A fee of £28m plus £7m in add-ons will be activated at the end of the season.

"To now be here at Newcastle, the club that I've supported since I was a kid, I'm honoured and very proud to wear this shirt," Hall said.

"Me and my family are Newcastle fans, and for me and my brother growing up, it was drilled into us that we were Newcastle. It's a big club and I can't wait to get started."

The deal for Hall, who came through the academy at Stamford Bridge, includes a sell-on clause for Chelsea should he leave Newcastle.

He is best known for playing at left-back but also featured on the wing and in midfield for Chelsea.

He made 11 appearances in all competitions last season, including nine in the league, and was Chelsea's Academy Player of the Year in 2023.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said he was "delighted" to sign Hall.

"He is a player we have tracked closely, as have a number of clubs, so it's very pleasing to secure him and to add a player of his quality, versatility and high potential to our squad," Howe said.

Speaking before the deal was confirmed, Howe said Hall would be the last player Newcastle signed this summer.

Newcastle have spent about £130m on Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento and Yankuba Minteh this summer.

Analysis

Harry De Cosemo, BBC Sport

Howe made it clear after the arrival of Livramento that Newcastle would "have to get creative" in the transfer market as they searched for one more defensive signing.

Financial Fair Play has dominated the discourse on Tyneside this summer, and the signing of Hall on a loan deal is purely a way to defer the payment for a year to stay within the rules. Otherwise, this is to be viewed as a permanent deal.

Howe has liked Hall since his Premier League debut at St James' Park. He will offer the balance at left-back in an attacking sense, dovetailing with Kieran Trippier or Livramento on the other flank.

The move frees Dan Burn up to compete at centre-back.

Newcastle were told this summer that Hall was a player Chelsea would not sell, and once again they have acted swiftly to complete a deal when the opportunity arose.

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546 comments

  • Comment posted by WildReiver, at 11:18 22 Aug 2023

    Irony is that a successful youngster with great potential has been sold by Chelsea who will soon have spent £1billion on so called established players with no sign of the team being anywhere near the likes of City or Real Madrid.

    • Reply posted by whosdatdandare, at 11:21 22 Aug 2023

      whosdatdandare replied:
      Irony is the local lad went to Chelsea and was then sold back to his hometown team

  • Comment posted by Tiger, at 11:31 22 Aug 2023

    Not a Newcastle fan but I can't remember the last signing they made that didn't look very, very smart. Good work again.

    • Reply posted by Hebburn Lee, at 12:17 22 Aug 2023

      Hebburn Lee replied:
      Chris Wood for about £25million? Jury is still out on Anthony Gordon for about £40million.

  • Comment posted by Ben, at 11:14 22 Aug 2023

    Saw this guy play against Man United last season and loved his attitude. Looks to have a decent reading of the game for such a young player, so I'm glad we've picked him up. Some rough English diamonds in the squad right now with Gordon, Livramento and Hall; be interesting to see if Eddie can turn them into prem level players over the next couple of years. HWTL.

    • Reply posted by Humble Chelsea Fan, at 11:38 22 Aug 2023

      Humble Chelsea Fan replied:
      this guy has incredible potential. has the composure of reece james, but he is prone to giving the ball away quite a bit and poor defensive positioning

  • Comment posted by Robert G, at 13:19 22 Aug 2023

    As a Chelsea fan since 1972 I have never felt more disenfranchised. A young, homegrown and very promising English talent is sold to a Premier league rival to make the books balance. Meanwhile we sign unknown quantities for vast sums. If Lewis Hall had been playing for PSG we’d have snapped him up for 60mill and put him on an 8 year contract. Good luck Lewis.

    • Reply posted by Laughing Gnome, at 13:48 22 Aug 2023

      Laughing Gnome replied:
      Having mortgaged their future with 10-year contracts for seemingly ordinary players, no better than what they already had, they are now selling-off what's left of their future. An absolute car-crash of a club.

  • Comment posted by Its never easy , at 11:41 22 Aug 2023

    Truely loves the Toon. Lewis Hall and his family are big Newcastle fans.

    What a move to play top level football for a club you support.

    Living the dream 😎

    • Reply posted by cb, at 13:27 22 Aug 2023

      cb replied:
      Actually sounds like a good transfer, going to a club he supported.... for the life of me though, where is £28m for a youngster a proper valuation...?
      Is FFP a real concept?

  • Comment posted by Nolberto Goaliola, at 11:48 22 Aug 2023

    Another excellent signing under Howe. Very surprised Chelsea let him go to be honest but their mistake is our gain. Much happier with this lad than all the reports linking us with that overpaid flop Cucurella.

    • Reply posted by TheNightmanCometh, at 12:58 22 Aug 2023

      TheNightmanCometh replied:
      Always fascinating how fans have to convince themselves that each new signing is "excellent". Played a handful of games for Chelsea, now surplus to requirements, but the narrative is that £35m is somehow a bargain.

  • Comment posted by D1707389277921, at 11:13 22 Aug 2023

    This probably falls into the category of ' good deal for everyone involved '. He is a talented player and as a CFC fan I'm sad to see him leave but its a good move for him and getting up to 35m for a young player is also a good outcome for CFC when there are so many LBs at the club. He is also a Newcastle fan and wants to play more in CM so will see how it goes for him

    • Reply posted by Changing Times, at 12:35 22 Aug 2023

      Changing Times replied:
      Yes but you forgot to mention that Saudi PIF, who own Newcastle are heavily invested in Boehly's Clearlake, who own Chelsea FC.

      A Direct conflict of interests in my book.

      £35m will Greatly help out Chelsea in their quest to appear Legitimate.

      Yes.... That is £35m for an untested, unknown kid.

      Very convenient, I MUST say.

      ☠🤝💰

  • Comment posted by Fishmate, at 11:44 22 Aug 2023

    Whilst not much to go on, he made less mistakes in every game he played for us last season than Levi Colwill achieved against West Ham on Sunday. Good move for Hall, good business for Newcastle and a poor decision by Chelsea. Best of luck Lewis...

  • Comment posted by CFC_Zola, at 11:16 22 Aug 2023

    Good luck to him. Would have preferred Chelsea to keep him but seemingly that wasn't possible. Looks a really good prospect.

    • Reply posted by Big Mal, at 17:20 22 Aug 2023

      Big Mal replied:
      It would have been possibly if Chelsea were being run like a football club rather than a rich man’s fantasy project. This wouldn’t have happened under Abramovich. Boehly makes Abramovich look as tight as Levy

  • Comment posted by Dazza, at 11:07 22 Aug 2023

    He has such great ability and potential, I’m gutted he’s going

    • Reply posted by Paris, at 18:14 22 Aug 2023

      Paris replied:
      He doesn't fit the profile of a modern Chelsea player, and I mean that as a compliment.

  • Comment posted by drogsbreath, at 13:00 22 Aug 2023

    I'm gutted that he's gone. Such a talented lad. Meanwhile Chelsea's hierarchy are mistaking cost for talent. Because a product is expensive doesn't make it a better product.
    I've been going to Chelsea for 57 years ( 30 of those as a season ticket holder ) and I've seen both good and bad times. But, sadly, I'm actually losing interest in my Club. We're a laughing stock and it hurts.

    • Reply posted by mike, at 14:27 22 Aug 2023

      mike replied:
      the club is becoming a source of amusement to others but its genuine fans for decades who I feel for

  • Comment posted by B4N, at 11:08 22 Aug 2023

    They haven’t made a bad signing yet and I don’t think LH will break the trend!

    • Reply posted by David Windsor, at 11:12 22 Aug 2023

      David Windsor replied:
      Chris Wood?

  • Comment posted by Love-Chips-Hate-Spuds, at 11:43 22 Aug 2023

    As a Chelsea fan really sad to see him go he is a fantastic player and will do well for the Toon and as hesays its the team he supports does not get any better than to play for team you love was a great prospect but he wanted 1st team football now, he is good enough as was Gilmour that we sold Cucrella cost us 65 million and Hall is way better then that haircut-needed muppet

    • Reply posted by Robert Thomson, at 11:57 22 Aug 2023

      Robert Thomson replied:
      I'm surprised Gilmours name doesnt come up more often - keeping him wouldve saved the lavia/caciedo transfers

  • Comment posted by pauld, at 11:12 22 Aug 2023

    Good prospect, sad he’s leaving. Shows what a crazy market though, 35m for a young player who’s barely played

    • Reply posted by ozzy, at 11:24 22 Aug 2023

      ozzy replied:
      £28M - it only rises to £35M under certain performance related conditions this season.

  • Comment posted by Sonny, at 11:30 22 Aug 2023

    A sensible signing as have all of Eddie Howe’s signings been

    • Reply posted by TheNightmanCometh, at 12:59 22 Aug 2023

      TheNightmanCometh replied:
      This is £35m for a teenager, yes? But I forgot that Eddie Howe can do no wrong.

  • Comment posted by Forensics, at 13:14 22 Aug 2023

    Hall leaves Cucurella stays and there you have Todd Boehly.

    • Reply posted by Jamel, at 13:24 22 Aug 2023

      Jamel replied:
      Noone would sign Cucurela. Not even the Saudi clubs!

  • Comment posted by KingCarlos, at 11:20 22 Aug 2023

    Good move for Hall

  • Comment posted by Tortuga, at 15:05 22 Aug 2023

    I was lucky enough to have played a bit of cricket with him a couple of years ago at Binfield CC as Lewis is also a very talented cricketer. A great lad and really lovely family. He has a very modest mentality, he deserves to go far and this next step in his footballing career is no doubt a dream come true.

  • Comment posted by Sheuniongal, at 11:07 22 Aug 2023

    Good pedigree, but seems very much, and nice to see he goes home to Newcastle.

    • Reply posted by hunkydory, at 11:35 22 Aug 2023

      hunkydory replied:
      Home he is from Slough. No connection with Newcastle apart from his Dad latched onto them when Keegan had them flying.

  • Comment posted by Timefiller, at 12:19 22 Aug 2023

    This is a strange decision by Chelsea. Why not loan him out for a season and then sell Marc Cucurella at the end of the season?

    • Reply posted by Hebburn Lee, at 12:24 22 Aug 2023

      Hebburn Lee replied:
      It's an accounting thing ;-)

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