Why Newcastle United have done a smart move by signing Ki Sung-yueng
Newcastle United have signed South Korea captain Ki Sung-yueng. Ki will join the Tyneside outfit from relegated side Swansea City on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Liberty Stadium.
Ki played against the likes of Sweden and Mexico in the World Cup. He missed the infamous win against Germany in the last game due to an injury sustained in the 2-1 loss to Mexico.
Over the course of his career, the Gwangju-born player has featured as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder, centre-back and attacking midfielder. However, he thrives as a defensive midfielder.
The 29-year-old joined Swansea from Celtic and chipped in with 15 goals and 10 assists in 166 games. The versatile midfielder has won the Korean League Cup, Scottish Premier League, Scottish Cup, and the League Cup so far. He will bring in a lot of Premier League experience, having played for the Swans for five seasons.
In addition to that, Ki has been capped 104 times by South Korea, including 9 World Cup games and has scored 10 times for his country.
The player has a keen eye for the goal. He seems to have a penchant for shooting from a distance and taking set-pieces. He will be a valuable addition to Rafa Benitez’s side ahead of the next season.
Ki has signed a two-year deal at Newcastle and he would be a strong addition for the Magpies who finished 10th in the previous term. Playing as the pivot in a compact midfield, Ki should be deployed alongside Jonjo Shelvey and Mo Diame.
Furthermore, his consistency over the years will provide the Toon Army with something positive to look forward to. In his five seasons in the league, Ki has played at least 20 games each season.
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His vast experience, passing style and ability to play across a number of positions, makes him an ideal player for Newcastle. The fact that he signed for free represents little risk from a financial perspective and with that in mind, Ki is definitely a great signing for Newcastle United.
