Newcastle United has reached an agreement to sign midfielder Aladji Bamba from Monaco in a deal potentially worth up to £34 million. The 20-year-old Frenchman is scheduled to arrive on Tyneside on Thursday for a medical examination and to sign a long-term contract with the club.
Bamba's arrival follows Newcastle's sale of Sandro Tonali to Tottenham last month and their earlier acquisition of 18-year-old Sean Steur from Ajax. Another reported target, Johan Manzambi of Freiburg, recently chose to join Aston Villa.
During the past Ligue 1 season, Bamba demonstrated strong performance among midfielders who played at least 500 minutes. He ranked among the top five in several statistical categories, including duels won (averaging 9.1 per game), tackles (3.6), successful take-ons (1.6), and aerial duels won (1.9).