New Newcastle United midfielder Aladji Bamba hopes that leaving his comfort zone at Monaco will help him succeed at St James' Park. The 20-year-old signed a five-year deal on Friday morning, with the transfer potentially worth up to £34 million.
Bamba becomes the fourth senior signing of the summer for Newcastle, joining Sean Steur, Ewen Jaouen and Bazoumana Toure, all aged 20 or under. Despite breaking into Monaco's first team only last season, Bamba had spent five years at the club and felt he was becoming too comfortable.
Bamba describes his playing style
Describing himself as a box-to-box midfielder, Bamba said: 'I think I'm a box-to-box player, good in both halves, who likes to retrieve the ball and who can set up his team-mates with some nice passes so that they can score. That's how I would define my style.'
He added: 'I'm impatient to start. I was at Monaco for five years and I think I was getting a bit comfortable. Today I have the opportunity to leave this cocoon, if we can say that, so I am very excited and can't wait.'
First appearance unclear
Bamba met some of his new team-mates on Thursday, but it remains to be seen if he will be available for Saturday's pre-season friendly at Gateshead. If not, his debut could come next Wednesday against Bristol City. Newcastle will then travel to Spain for a training camp in La Manga, followed by friendlies against Valencia, Everton, Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg.
