Midfielder Aladji Bamba is due to arrive on Thursday for a medical and to sign a long-term contract.

Newcastle United have agreed a deal worth up to £34m for Monaco midfielder Aladji Bamba. The 20-year-old Frenchman, who played his first senior game in August 2025, is due on Tyneside on Thursday to have a medical and sign a long-term contract. Newcastle sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham last month and have been in the market for a second young midfielder after signing 18-year-old Sean Steur from Ajax. Among Ligue 1 midfielders who played at least 500 minutes last season, Bamba ranked in the top five for duels won (9.1 per game on average), tackles (3.6), successful take-ons (1.6) and aerial duels won (1.9). This move for Bamba underlines a marked shift in transfer strategy for Newcastle. It is certainly hard to imagine the club spending £55m on a 29-year-old again like they did when they signed forward Yoane Wissa from Brentford last summer. Instead, Newcastle have targeted players aged 20 and under on the continent this time around. Bamba, like Steur, Ewen Jaouen and Bazoumana Toure, will need time to adapt to the physicality and intensity of the Premier League.