Why Newcastle have completed a masterstroke by signing Ki Sung-yueng for free

Newcastle United have signed Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng on a two-year deal. The South Korean international was a free agent after his contract expired at the Welsh club in June.

Ki played the first two group games of the World Cup, before getting injured in his country’s famous win over Germany. He is Rafa Benitez’s second signing after Martin Dubravka joined the club permanently. Nevertheless, signing Ki was a brilliant move by Newcastle since the midfielder will bring solidity, experience and technical ability in abundance.

The Korean’s presence will certainly improve the squad next season. Now, Benitez will have a diligent option in the midfield who can play across positions. Let us scout the player with stats and attributes to conclude as to why he is a great choice for Newcastle.

Scouting Ki Sung-Yueng

Ki Sung-Yueng’s ability on the ball, along with his work ethic and strong footballing sense, is terrific. In Benitez’s 4-2-3-1 system, the Korean will slot into the central midfield area. The 29-year-old can either play as a defensive midfielder or as a central playmaker from a deep position.

He scored 2 goals and provided 2 assists last season for the Swans. He epitomizes his work ethic by tackling and intercepting opposition build up towards the goal. He averaged 1 tackle and 1.3 interceptions per game last season.

In addition, Ki’s passing accuracy is impeccable. To have a pass success rate of 88% in the Premier League is no joke and that will help him create a plethora of chances for the Magpies. He is also a danger from set-pieces, making him an immensely valuable player.

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Verdict

With all that said and done, this a fabulous deal for Newcastle. They have signed a player of Ki’s calibre for free and the midfielder should work wonders under an experienced manager like Rafa Benitez. He must perform well and showcase his talents at the highest level once again.

Quite undoubtedly, Benitez will be on the lookout for more signings. However, the deals done so far have been astute and dexterous. With Ki’s addition, the future does look bright for the club and its fans.