Newcastle United have completed the signing of former Burnley midfielder Jeff Hendrick, who became a free agent last month, on a four-year contract until 2024.
Hendrick had joined Burnley in 2016 following a strong European Championship tournament with the Republic of Ireland, costing the Clarets around £10m. He has since gone on to become an established Premier League player and represents a bargain for Newcastle.
“It's a massive club and playing over the years, going to the stadium, it's one of the best stadiums to play in, so I just want to get playing there,” Hendrick told NUTV."I've had over 100 games in the Premier League but I want to keep going and keep improving with a different team. It's going to be different for me, the demands with the bigger stadium, the crowd, how big the club is, so I've got to take that on and keep pushing myself and striving to get better.
Magpies boss Steve Bruce explained that Hendrick is a player he has ‘admired for a long time’.
“I watched him when he was at Derby, then he went to Burnley for a lot of money and couldn't afford him, so I missed out then!” the 59-year-old commented on the signing.
“He's an experienced international football who can play all across the midfield so we welcome him aboard. He'll be a big asset to us, on and off the pitch.
“He's a great pro, down to earth, and at the age of 28 it's a wonderful time to get somebody. It is the peak of his career - he's a really fit boy who has played 122 times in the Premier League for Burnley over the last four years, and I'm sure he'll be a great addition to the squad.”
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Source : 90min