Midfielder Mohamed Diame has left Hull City for Championship side Newcastle United in a £4.5 million transfer.
The 29-year-old played a pivotal role in Hull’s promotion to the Premier League last season after he scored the winning goal in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium back in May.
Midfielder delighted to have joined Magpies
Diame joined the Tigers from West Ham United back in 2014 and went on to make 50 appearances in his two seasons with the club.
He scored 13 goals in the process and will, no doubt, be a big miss to the side, who are looking to maintain their top-flight status this coming season.
The Magpies activated a release clause in Diame’s contract, and the rest was history after the midfielder rejected a new three-year deal to move to the North East.
Hull have been struck down with an injury crisis as of late, with only 13 players fit ahead of their opening game just next weekend.
Diame signs for Magpies on three-year deal
Diame said that it is a “great feeling” to have joined the Magpies and to be able to call himself a Newcastle United player.
“Everybody close to me knows how desperate I am to play in the Premier League again, but when Newcastle comes in for you it makes you think,” he told Newcastle’s official club website.
The midfielder stated that he is looking ahead to the future, and because Newcastle will be back in the Premier League “for sure”, that was the reason he joined.
Tigers disappointed to have lost Diame
Shortly after Newcastle released images of Diame, Hull responded and announced a statement which clearly showed their disappointment in losing such a big player.
It read: “Diame has signed a three-year deal at St James’ Park for an undisclosed fee after the Magpies activated a release clause in the midfielder’s contract.
“The Club is naturally disappointed to lose such a talented player so close to the start of the new season.”