Leon Best Joins Blackburn For A Fee Of Over £3M

8:40 pm, Monday, July 2nd, 2012 by Ed Harrison · 146 Comments

News tonight that Blackburn Rovers have completed the signing of Leon Best from Newcastle, for a fee that’s being reported to be over £3M.

Leon Best – scoring against QPR last season

Leon has signed a four year deal at Blackburn, and the personal terms are understood to be very good for the 25 year-old former Southampton and Coventry striker.

Best did quite well at Newcastle, and in a total of 42 appearances he scored 10 goals, and he looked a good striker, who could put the ball in the back of the net.

His best performance for Newcastle was in January of 2010 against West Ham at St. James’ Park, when he hit a hat trick in his starting debut in the Premier League – not too bad.

A statement on the Blackburn website read as follows:

“Blackburn Rovers have this evening completed the signing of Leon Best from Newcastle United. The 25-year-old striker makes the move from the North East to the North West for a fee of more than £3m, signing a four-year deal.”

It’s very unusual for a club to state the size of the fee, but we suppose it’s a message to the Blackburn fans, that they want to put a side together that can go straight back up to the Premier League.

It was a done deal as long as Leon passed his medical, which he seems to have done, and he decided to drop down a division to play at Blackburn, where he will no doubt be hoping to help Blackburn get promoted next season, at the first attempt.

Best will wear the number 9 shirt at Blackburn, and seems to be a direct replacement for Yakubu, who has followed Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka to China, and signed for Guangzhou R&F recently, on a three-year deal.

We wish Leon Best all the very best of luck at Blackburn Rovers.

Comments welcome.

Tags: Contracts · Leon Best · Newcastle News · Transfer News and Rumours

146 responses so far ↓

1 Graeme // Jul 2, 2012 at 8:44 PM

A good place for Leon – wish him all the best as I think he will be there for a while If he’s planning on coming back to EPL with Blackburn!!

Just cant see them coming straight back up – the place is in a shambles lol
2 pardew no 1 // Jul 2, 2012 at 8:45 PM

not bad business hope we see him in the prem one day
3 Big Pappa Cisse // Jul 2, 2012 at 8:47 PM

Btw if you want to call a player shit on this blog beware the rath of Oldgit, unless you have facts to back it up of course
4 GeordieRealist // Jul 2, 2012 at 8:50 PM

Big Pappa, needlessly dragging whinging from another thread. Grow up man.
5 wynsleap // Jul 2, 2012 at 8:50 PM

Good luck to Best. He always gave his all for the Toon.
Unfortunately he was always going to be just a decent player and hopefully we’ve gone past the ‘decent’ player stage.
Starting to worry a little, however, about the striker position. With Lovo and Best gone and only the enigmatic and not always fit Shola for back up, I hope the management have a good second option if this De Jong deal falls through.
Really we should be looking at one top forward AND a promising young back up striker.
6 Baro // Jul 2, 2012 at 8:54 PM

All the best of luck to Leon Best. He played a major part in our promotion season. Then scored crucial goals 2 seasons ago. He also got some this season, like the 2 vs Fulham… All the best to him, always gave it his all.

Good Luck Leon……
7 Zebras4Life // Jul 2, 2012 at 8:55 PM

NO need to worry fellas. Our team will be ready to rock come opening day!
8 Big Pappa Cisse // Jul 2, 2012 at 8:55 PM

@ Wynsleap

Ashley must have learnt his lesson from last season, at one point we had only two fit centerbacks up to prem standard and one more serious injury could have crippled us and ended the European dream. They must know we need to replace everyone sold up to this point with a few more recruits aswell.
9 Dannyo // Jul 2, 2012 at 8:56 PM

Good fee for a decent player. All partys involved gain in this one imo.
300% increase in transfer fee for what we bought him for.
10 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:04 PM

just waiting for De Jong to replace Besty now…
11 MagpiesFlyHigh // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:08 PM

That is about £1m more than I reckoned we’d get and he seems to have a good deal and will be a starting 11 player there. Good business all round.
12 Big Pappa Cisse // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:13 PM

I wish I could just fast forward time and see who is in our squad when the window slams shut like, cant bear waiting around for things to happen.
13 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:15 PM

Big Pappa Cisse
good things come to those who wait
14 Big Pappa Cisse // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:16 PM

@ peter

Hope so m8
15 darrenfletcher88 // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:17 PM

Gud look to leon best, we got a good fee for a decent finisher, money from Forster and free wages from smith and Guthrie and just hope we get a few over the line now, I trust are board and manager, Its just seems to be a long time for them to get some
One over the line……
16 ochytoon // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:22 PM

Gonna be a wee bit annoyed if we haven’t signed a striker by the end if the week. As it has been said, we only have Ba, Cisse (both of whom are absent in January for ACON and I think Cisse misses the start of the season because of the Olympics) and Ameobi who can’t be expected to consistently score when needed. Here’s to hoping we net De Jong and another striker. Still need to sign a CB, RB and midfielder before the season starts aswell.
17 Ketsbaia9 // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:24 PM

We need De Jong to replace Best and Goodwillie/Mbaye Niang to replace Lovenkrands. If Gameiro is available at £6m, I’d go for both De Jong and Gameiro.

Anita will replace Smith.

Debuchy to replace Simpson.

Sign either Rod Fanni or Scharner to replace Williamson.

The rest should be just additions to the squad. I’d rather us pay the extra £3m and go for Vertonghen.
18 rich_toonfan // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:24 PM

I’m sure we will get some deals done.

I don’t think the club would have agreed to this deal unless they had a feeling a deal was nearly done for a striker.
19 Magpies-till-d3ath // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:25 PM

There is much more out there than just de Jong! I’d love 2 see some1 like Lens or perhaps Dost
20 rich_toonfan // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:26 PM

@ketsbaia

love your optimism but I think you expect too much…hope you wont be disappointed if it doesn’t pan out.

why do you want goodwillie? there are so many better players than him out there.
21 Spuggy // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:26 PM

All the players we’ve moved out are to be fair behind the quality of the core of the team.

If we replace with the same quality as the likes of Cabaye, Tiote, Marveaux, Arfa, Cisse then it’s happy days.

Very exciting times – come August we could have a team of 11 regular internationals!! I don’t think it will be long before Santon and Marveaux will be knocking on the front door.
22 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:27 PM

Ketsbaia
Ba Cisse De Jong and Gamerio? we’re not Real Madrid, we can’t keep 4 top strikers happy. only could keep them happy if they were on £100,000+ a week *cough owen cough*
23 rich_toonfan // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:29 PM

@peterwright

look at man utd and man city….they have 4 strikers and both have unhappy ones…berbatov and tevez both sulked, dzeko wasn’t too happy being dropped either.
24 Spuggy // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:29 PM

We are developing a fantastic new team, but we musn’t forget the local talent.

We need to find the future Shearer’s and Gascoine’s. With the sale of another clutch of english players we will soon have very few starters who are domestic – perhaps only Saylor.

A sad indictment of the modern state of english football.
25 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:30 PM

surely we will have more news on Lambias tonight? i’m so eager to know if we have De Jong or not!
26 darrenfletcher88 // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:31 PM

Gamerio??? Let’s get are main targets first
27 Ketsbaia9 // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:31 PM

We don’t really need an outstanding striker to be our fourth choice. Someone like Goodwillie or Steven Fletcher will do.

I’m expecting more players to be signed than just the above. We’ll be signing lots of players for our reserves.

I wasn’t expecting us to be in for Anita though. I thought we’d go for someone like Diame whom was available on a free.
28 rich_toonfan // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:32 PM

How I see it to get champions league we need to gamble in one of two ways.

1. spend a little and bring in a couple good players, hope they all stay fit and all perform well, getting us to top 4.

or

2. spend a lot up front and gamble making the champions league then make our money back then.

The way I see our club going is with option 1, Ashley doesn’t seem to like to take huge risks…he will continue to build slowly looking at the previous years.
29 belgrade fan // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:32 PM

psg signed Lavezzi. should take Gameiro
30 nobby sol // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:35 PM

thanks for the service leon filled in well when we sold carroll
31 rich_toonfan // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:35 PM

@spuggy

I don’t know why we aren’t looking at local talent more…it is much cheaper then signing people who are all world class stars.

I think we should be looking to bring in some continental coaches to work with beardsley and the rest to introduce a different style of play into the kids.
32 r_hayes // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:35 PM

Good luck Leon, not got a bad word to say about this fella! Seems a model pro! Any updates on this De Jong deal? I’ve heard we had another bid rejected today of around £11m???
33 Spuggy // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:36 PM

Douglas signs for 8m Euros? Genuine Dutch source…

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elfvoetbal.nl%2Fnieuws%2F196781_twente-accepteert-bod-van-newcastle-en-lijkt-douglas-kwijt
34 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:38 PM

just looked on twitter, FC Twente accept 8m euro bid for defender Douglas! looks like we’ve got one man from Twente so far! :D
35 Sazzer // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:38 PM

Magpies-till-d3ath
Dost went to Wolfsburg already. Lens bit ineffective but could be an alternative.
36 Shiremagpies // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:39 PM

evening guys, im a reader that reads every post on here but only post myself when there is summit really juicy and exciting going on, we are talking about 2nd strikers to buy at the minute i gather….. dont shoot me down when i say this but would anybody fancy Emnes from the smoggies, remember him playing against us a few seasons back and he was a slippery little sucker
37 SwedishMagpie // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:39 PM

My dream signing would be John Guidetti
38 MagpiesFlyHigh // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:41 PM

Kets

Goodwillie would be a step backwards. He is SPL/CHampionship standard, not EPL side knocking on the CL door – even as fourth pick
39 Spuggy // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:41 PM

Rich

I think we are trying to develop local talent more, with our class 1 academy status.
40 Ketsbaia9 // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:42 PM

Bit steep that is. Not sure if I believe it. That Inter striker looks more promising.

Got a feeling we might sign Rosales from Twente.
41 Shiremagpies // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:42 PM

@ spuggy….. did we get awarded with the class 1 academy status then???
42 studsy // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:43 PM

damn helicopter landing at the Benton training ground…noisy f00ka!

http://i45.tinypic.com/2hey3bc.jpg
43 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:43 PM

ShireMagpies
Shiremoor?
44 Shiremagpies // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:45 PM

@ peterwright… that would be correct mate. hope were not sitting next door to eachother or summit
45 Spuggy // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:46 PM

@ Shire

I know we applied for it a few months back, assumed it would be a given.
46 Shiremagpies // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:47 PM

@spuggy……. well according to an article i read cant remember where it said we had failed had summit to do with the facilities… however the mackems and the smoggies had got it, we got class 2
47 Spuggy // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:48 PM

@ Shire

Ah didn’t see that. I’m sure they’ll put it right soon – we have underfloor heating now!! haha
48 jakesome // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:49 PM

@28 you do realize what happened to leeds when they chose option two???????
49 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:50 PM

well if you live near St Johns ambulance then there’s a chance lol
50 Shiremagpies // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:51 PM

@ spuggy have a read of this http://www.nufcblog.org/2012/06/sunderland-and-middlesbrough-to-get-eppp-category-one-status-but-not-newcastle/
51 Shiremagpies // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:52 PM

nah mate other side of metro lines, opposite garage pass you on the way to the school every morning though
52 Toon1978 // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:52 PM

Sorry to p1ss on anyone’s chips but isn’t this Douglas story a regurgitation from yesterdays Dutch news ????
53 SupaToonKid // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:53 PM

Ketsbaia

You seem to be losing your sanity further and further every day this window goes on; Goodwillie? Scharner? Fanni? Do you want this club to progress?
54 GeordieToon89 // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:54 PM

Goodwillie as in the Goodwillie that isnt good enough to play in a sh*t Blackburn team?
55 SupaToonKid // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:55 PM

Really hope we can get deals done for Luuk de Jong, Debuchy & Douglas soon & also hopefully Anita & Hoilett as well. We’d be on it next season for sure with them additions/upgrade replacements.
56 Jonas // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:55 PM

SupaToonKid

I said a smilar thing to you yesterday, about ketsbaia! unrealistic fifa 12 world!
57 firebug666 // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:55 PM

Reports in Holland suggest Newcastle have ended their interest in FC Twente striker Luuk de Jong. They are said to have seen an increased offer knocked back and are not prepared to pay over the odds for the 21-year-old forward.

From Sky Sports News
58 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:56 PM

Toon1978
thats what i thought,
59 Toon1978 // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:56 PM

Shiremagpies

I think all it mean’s is that SAFC can pick youngsters up at an earlier age then us, i may be wrong. SAFC have always had a better academy then us anyway, what difference is it gonna make in the future. Apart from that i believe Ashley is working hard to get the academy up to standard anyway.
60 jesperfuglsang // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:58 PM

The € 8 mil Douglas transfer I’ll believe that when it is comes from the Club and not twatter

Are you sure it is not $ 8 mil? well even that sounds steep for a defender playing in the Dutch league with one year left of his contract – he could come free next year.

Sounds fetchy…not the Douglas transfer just the fee
61 Ropper28 // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:59 PM

Mike ashley has made a final offer to twente of 17 mill cash for de jong and douglas ,if they dont accept by the end of the week we will look at other targets . We will announce the signing of 18 yr old coventry kid bigirimana in the next couple of days for 1mil .
62 magpiebop // Jul 2, 2012 at 9:59 PM

What a battle for striker positions if we had those 4. Won’t be hard keeping them happy if we’re playing 2 games a week!
I think we could have done better in the cups last season wii squad rotation and it’s the way ahead for us, if we want to maintain a challenge on all fronts. A horses for courses approach is the best way to keep a happy, fit and eager squad in my opinion.
63 Shiremagpies // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:01 PM

@toon1978…… i agree with your interpretation of it, i think that is all it means, surely though the kid/s still have a choice in the matter though. not that im biased or anything but the toon/scumderland/smoggies, i know where i would go if i was 13 or 14 or 15. but you are spot on
64 Jonas // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:06 PM

Has it not been 24 hours? we should of found out whether de jong was joining yet?
65 nufc90 // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:07 PM

That Douglas story says in the first couple of lines it’s from English media (the express story the other day) nothing new atm. de Jong is still on holiday, looks like we’ll be moving on though there’s no way I’d pay the asking price of 20m€ for him
66 Toon1978 // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:09 PM

Shiremagpies

To be fair to the SAFC academy, there has been a lot of kid’s picked up from the Tyneside area and they have chosen SAFC over NUFC because of their good reputation as an academy. I think this all stems back to the Keegan days when he abolished the youth set up at NUFC back in the 90s.
67 Shiremagpies // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:12 PM

Toon 1978

yea remember that mate, credit to ashley and llambias though they have said since day 1, that that area of the club was their main priority so we will soon find out, do we know how often we can apply for this clasification? is it every season? would be nice to have like
68 toonarmydownsouth // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:14 PM

Ketsbia lad im worried your brain has imploded! Goodwille is a championship player at best not to mention he seems to get in more trouble than ranger! Fanni n scharner? Fanni is a has been scharner is a never was!!
69 yorkshireToon // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:17 PM

@nufcfans: Dutch football website @elfvoetbal says Twente have accepted €8m bid for Douglas, but adds report is from British media (Express?) #NUFC

Confused?
70 Toon1978 // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:20 PM

Shiremagpies

I think it’s every year mate but don’t quote me on that lol
71 Sazzer // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:21 PM

Not a lot of top teams pulling of your strategy rich especially not in England.
72 Shiremagpies // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:22 PM

toon 1978

like i say would be nice to have so we can compete evenly against them, would also be a positive step in the right direction to join the last seasons worth steps in the right direction….. thoughts on de jong mate
73 MagpiesFlyHigh // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:24 PM

Aye lads who is goin to have 9 fanni on the back of their shirts – shud change his name at least…nae chance
74 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:27 PM

haha. it would be certain that 90% of toon fans would have fanni on their backs hahaha
75 Toon1978 // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:28 PM

Shiremagpies

As for De Jong, well there are that many rumours mate it’s hard to distinguish the wheat from the chaff. Sometimes i wish NUFC where just a little bit more open with the supporters and it’s fan’s. I think because it is so quite on the De Jong from the Dutch and British press make their own bloody stories up. We just don’t know. I would love him at this club and it would be a huge step in the right direction. We are a little thin on the ground atm compared to last season in certain area. I have my fingers crossed for De Jong but i won’t hold my breath lol as i think he may prove to be to costly for Ashley.
76 toonarmydownsouth // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:28 PM

MFH if ketsbia keeps pushing fanni on his pal pardew he might be given a shirt with name on that means fanny
77 toonarmydownsouth // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:29 PM

Mind you if ketsbia keeps pushing fanni on pards he might just get paid for it!
78 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:31 PM

‘we love you fanni, we do!’ already planning fanni’s chant lol. who is this fanni btw?
79 MagpiesFlyHigh // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:31 PM

peter

anatomically incorrrect – unless you are a yoga yogi in which case it is position 112b

TADS that is such an arsy idea
80 Toon1978 // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:32 PM

peterrwrightt

Yeah, who the f..k is Fanni lol.
81 Shiremagpies // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:34 PM

toon 1978

cant agree more, i read one article and i get all excited then 5 mins later the next article comes along to send you in the complete opposite direction…. the lad is phenomenal granted, but i hope he doesnt turn out to be like nicklas bendtner at arsenal, full of himself thinking he can take the world on, possibly gets to carried away with the fee he has commanded etc etc etc. do you agree that to show real strides forward and to cover us for the next 5-6 years de jong and Jordan rhodes would send us fans delirious
82 MagpiesFlyHigh // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:36 PM

Rod Fanni sound like an instruction
83 MagpiesFlyHigh // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:38 PM

Shire

We know Pards is a good man manager and should have the measure of most gobby, arrogant, prima donnas

Only Ranger has proved beyond reason
84 NUFC FOR SALE // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:39 PM

Why do people get so upset that they are not being updated on transfers by the club?

Why on earth would a football club update its fans at every stage of a transfer?

Forget about it, if it happens it happens if it doesn’t?? so what? we’ll go after someone else.

Begs belief that some fans think they should be kept abreast of all transfer dealings
85 Toon1978 // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:40 PM

Shiremagpies

Yes, both players are big talents and i would be extremely happy with both De Jong and Rhodes. I am exactly the same when waiting for news on incoming players, one minute it sounds promising, the next it’s doom lol. For us to have a strong finish next season,it is imperative for us to keep Krul, Santon, Colo,Cabaye,Tiote,Hba,Ba,Cisse. We also have the up and coming Vuckic, Ferguson and Abeid not to mention the quality we have in our reserves in Campbell, Richardson and Streete to things look pretty healthy atm but it would be even better to get the likes of De Jong, Rhodes, Anita and Debuchy.
86 Toon1978 // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:42 PM

NUFC FOR SALE

I think your post was directed at me lol. But i did not say i wanted to be updated all the time. A little info would be nice from time to time. After 33 years of support i have no hair left through the stress hahaha.
87 kevymartins // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:48 PM

Is cabaye on twitter? also the debuchy one is well fake there is no way a player would write that about a club he might be joining.
88 NUFC FOR SALE // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:48 PM

Toon1975 not directed directly at you, you’re certainly not the only one

I just don’t get why people start getting upset about transfer dealings.

Look we’ve been linked and signed much much bigger names than De Jong in the past (Owen springs to mind) and they turn out to be hopeless.

Just let the transfer window play out, see who we get and then we’ll get on with it.

I think we’ll do alright this window (5 million for Best and Forster is a great great start) just bide your time.

Carr has already said the club have 3 options for every position when looking for a player.

From what I’ve seen I’m not totally convinced with De Jong anyway, he looks like a Pavlyuchenko type to me and i’m not sure that fits in with the 4-3-3 formation we are likely to play and most teams are adopting.

I’d prefer to see Junior Hoillett and Adam Johnson
89 Sazzer // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:49 PM

I hope for some Twentfers and some classy underbid action on tomorrows menu.
90 Shane // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:51 PM

Just seen that old Carlsberg advert with the ex England guys with Sir Bobby as manager. Great advert… The bit with Sir Bobby really got me though. What a legend of a bloke he was! Sorely missed!
91 rich_toonfan // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:51 PM

Sazzer ???

Which strategy? I mention 2 opposite ones.

The gamble leeds took whih back fired and the one that spurs have been using over the past few years. Try and be as close to the top 4 as possible to give yourself a chance. If you don’t spend a lot and don’t make it then no problem.

The clubs that are in it every year like man utd, Milan, real, barca etc know pretty much they will be in it every season so can afford to spend large amounts knowing they will qualify.
92 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:54 PM

looks like we’re gunna have to go through another day of twitter lies getting our hopes up. De Jong news tomorrow please
93 yorkshireToon // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:55 PM

The debuchy account was tweeting when France were playing and it also said he was in chile on one of the tweets during the euros.. And cabaye is on twitter..

@nufcfans: Here’s the brief Sunday Express story from yesterday – £5m fee agreed they say > http://t.co/7XVUkhM6 – @elfvoetbal figure is £6.4m. #NUFC

From a Dutch media
94 Toon1978 // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:55 PM

NUFC FOR SALE

I know hat you mean mate and i do agree believe it or not lol, but a little info form time to time would be nice but that is not going to happen any time soon.
95 kevymartins // Jul 2, 2012 at 10:58 PM

Now ya’ll call me yo lol

http://www.yohan-cabaye.com/
96 rich_toonfan // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:01 PM

I wonder why DL went out to holland?

It’s not often you hear of directors going to meet other clubs to directly negotiate a fee. Something must be going on. If we hadn’t got a deal in place I can’t see why they would have made the trip.

If they knew twente wanted 15 million and we wouldn’t pay it, it would be a strange move heading out there. Hopefully they are goin there to tie a deal up and conclude negotiations.

Bit worried the transfer sage guy said we were only after Douglas and de Jong was paper talk. Hope it’s not right but then again he would be guessing like us anyway.
97 kevymartins // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:03 PM

…Debuchy on cabaye..Mathieu Debuchy (Lille player)
He is a good player, an international class player. We met at the trainee center of Lille and he already had a huge potential. His best quality, I would say his kindness. He is level-headed and remains simple. We are on the phone twice a months and we had lunch few weeks ago. I am planning to come and see him play in England soon enough. We share a passion for tattoos and we often discuss about the next one. Besides, we both have a tattoo representing a rosary.
I am proud to get the chance to play in the French national team with him. It felt special because we have the same route since the beginning of our career.
When he left Lille, I was happy and sad at the same time. I knew we wouldn’t be able to see each other every day but It was a good thing for him to join a good team abroad. I am not surprised about his adaptation to the premiership. Yohan’s game can match with any kind of football. If he would have been to Spain, no doubt he would have as comfortable as he can be in Newcastle. He is now proving that he can evolve at a very high level
I am sure that within the next two years, he will join one of the best European club.

Eden Hazard (Lille player)
First of all, Yohan is a friend. I know him since I have been integrated in the professional team. He was very helpful to me when I first arrived. I was only 16 years old and it may be tough to find your place. At that time, Yohan was close to Kevin Mirallas another Belgian player, and eventually, I got closer to them. He took me under his wing and when Kevin Mirallas left Lille; I took the sit next to his in the changing room. He has always been an example to me. Indeed, I watched him on my TV screen during the Champions’ League. Automatically, I was envious of him and wanted to put myself in his shoes especially because he is a product of the trainee center.
To me, he is a Xavi but less talented (laugh). He is above the average regarding his passes and in the way he sees the game.

My best memory with him is the past season. We won the championship and the “Coupe de France”. By that time we said that it was something special we were lucky enough to share. Here is one specific memory with Yo. Before my first game as a professional player, I was sharing my bedroom with Lichtsteiner. Yo and Kevin Mirallas were sharing another one. So, I decided to visit them and I would come back later to my room. Eventually I stayed and spend the night between them. We made one bed out of the two we had. I didn’t sleep that well, and I woke up with pain in my back. Fortunately, I didn’t play the day after. One other memory was the friendly match between France and Belgium. During the match, I only got hit once… By Yo! He stepped on my foot so hard that I still have a mark today. I couldn’t sleep the night after the game.

My personal message to Yo: The 2012 European Championship is coming. I hope he will be a part of it. Actually, I am not worried about that, I am sure he will. May he enjoy because it’s a big chance to participate to such a monumental event. In any case I wish him to keep performing as he does at the moment.
his siblings
players
coaches
Return
98 kevymartins // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:05 PM

The site also gives his agents email adress for contact and ll
99 Sazzer // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:07 PM

Rich
Developing or buying English players on the cheap.
100 Marty-Toon // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:08 PM

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2dFEJWNFC9o

That’s a cracking add,with wor bobby in it.
Great laugh they’re havin with waddle and beardo
101 kevymartins // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:11 PM

Lmfao eden hazard ”I was sharing my bedroom with Lichtsteiner. Yo and Kevin Mirallas were sharing another one. So, I decided to visit them and I would come back later to my room. Eventually I stayed and spend the night between them. We made one bed out of the two we had. I didn’t sleep that well, and I woke up with pain in my back. Fortunately, I didn’t play the day after” funny stuff
102 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:11 PM

I love this blog….this morning it was all about racism and tonight….fanni.

Keep it up one and all.

Goodnight
103 FootballPsycho // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:15 PM

If I’m honest, I think this whole Luuk de Jong saga is just a smokescreen. It stinks of Erdinc/Maiga. Cisse was a player we were linked with very early on last summer; it was briefly dismissed as just a rumour. In January he was then snapped up and nothing was heard about the other 2 well-publicised sagas. Briefly this summer early on, we were linked with Kevin Gameiro (apparently he was “offered” to us by PSG for £7m). That rumour has gone cold; but with us being in for him last summer and them having just signed Lavezzi, I think he is the man we will end up with under the radar. It mirrors the Cisse transfer eerily from start to finish. I also think that the young striker we’ll be after is not Luuk de Jong but John Guidetti due to similar reasoning and circumstances.
104 kevymartins // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:19 PM

Demba ba was a center mid before striker
105 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:24 PM

kevy
Ba a center mid? yaya toure right there!
106 kevymartins // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:24 PM

It says that on his biography on his website
107 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:26 PM

hang on, i’m starting to prefer the idea of signing Gamerio and Guidetti… Ba Cisse Gamerio Guidetti / Ba Cisse De Jong Guidetti – sort of strike force i have on FIFA12…exciting to think of.
108 SupaToonKid // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:27 PM

FootballPsycho

You maybe be onto something there with Gameiro also maybe Luc Castaignos of Inter maybe another. I think we do have an interest in Luuk de Jong but if Twente continue to overprice then we’ll just get Douglas from them and Anita from Ajax and that’ll be business completed in Holland by Llambias. Who knows though, I just hope we get a signing this week as I can’t stomach all these anti-climaxes!
109 peterrwrightt // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:34 PM

night lads. here’s hoping we have a player signed tomorrow.
110 Sazzer // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:36 PM

Kevin Mirallas that’s your guy psycho.
111 FootballPsycho // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:37 PM

SupaToonKid

I’m glad you agree with me. I also thought Luc Castaignos was another possibility…however I only mentioned Guidetti because we’re actually (supposedly) in Holland right now…I also think we’ll sign Roberto Rosales instead of Douglas and also linking in to players we were after but have gone cold…Leroy Fer, but Anita is the smokescreen. I just don’t buy all these transfers being so public, we just don’t do that anymore.
112 FootballPsycho // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:41 PM

Sazzer

That Mirallas guy seems to be pretty impressive in terms of stats. 34 goals in 52 games for Olympiacos for a winger/striker who’s only 24…not too shabby at all. And it also links in with us playing them in a friendly too doesn’t it…hmmmmm…you’ve made me think hahahaha
113 davybtoon // Jul 2, 2012 at 11:49 PM

Mail say we’re close to getting Douglas n de Jong
114 GeordieToon89 // Jul 3, 2012 at 12:03 AM

We surely must be close to signing a striker considering Lovenkrands and Best have both left… Btw Mirralles is cracking player and is a very close friend of Cabaye
115 surreytoon // Jul 3, 2012 at 12:13 AM

The problem is we and Twente are too far apart in valuation. Twente are trying the same tactics we did with Liverpool. If Carroll went for £35m without an England cap, they think De Jong is worth at least E20m. We will try our luck with £10m, and if he agitates we may get him but if we dont then we’ll move on.
116 davybtoon // Jul 3, 2012 at 12:18 AM

Gt89 yea with loven n best gone I reckon won’t b long b4 a striker or 2 is signed, reckon Douglas will b a matter of days along with Curtis good
117 Beardo // Jul 3, 2012 at 12:19 AM

At noon tomorrow, keep an eye on the Twitter hills to the east, you will see two new stars appear in black and white.
118 davybtoon // Jul 3, 2012 at 12:24 AM

I do think we will hav a couple of signings this week
119 PIBID (the poster formerly known as hattambenarfa) // Jul 3, 2012 at 12:46 AM

Mirallas is a shout and i think we may have stumbled across something. ..hmm. Also as much as i dont want there to be think theres something in the douglas story him and krul future dutch starters. No legs in the anita story for me expect us to bring in a cm from france/germany. Id like kuzmanovic and tasci double raid from stuttgart
120 Twatter // Jul 3, 2012 at 1:01 AM

@Beardo Will there be Dekkah and the Fat Controller dressed as Joseph and Mary with baby Luuk in a manger? Starring Colin, Ketsbaia and Indian Magpie as the three wise men.
121 No Plain Saylor // Jul 3, 2012 at 1:10 AM

Look we’ve been talkin to twente for what 4 days? You don’t send people over and spend that long. Something is up. I wouldn’t be supriaed if we were asking about roseles for rb, leroy fer for midfield and obviously douglas and luuk. I think charnley and llambias are being kept up to date on our other potential signings as to know what kind of budget they have to work with in negotiations with twente. I think we’re attempting to shop around and get the beat value, lookin to maximize the number of quality players comin in while not gettin overly attached to pursing any individual. Like if we sign hoilett for free tomorrow that’s a great addition to the front 3, a d twente still holdin out on luuk maybe they drop him and go in for gameiro, guidetti, castaignos, morata, all cheaper.. all talented. Expect us to come back from holland with minimum 2 players, out of douglas, luuk de jong, roberto rosales, leroy fer, vernun anita.. would love leroy fer, exactly what we need.
122 No Plain Saylor // Jul 3, 2012 at 1:28 AM

If we got ogbonna, clyne, leroy fer, hoilett and gamiero, that’s cb, rb, cm, lw + st covered oldest player out of all of them is what 26 so fits the bill. All cost around 20 mill combined… if we fail qith douglas, de jong, anita and debuchy that’s some plan b innit!
123 Twatter // Jul 3, 2012 at 1:39 AM

@No Plain Saylor – I doubt we’ll be getting all of either of those groups of players you suggested, remember this is NUFC, the NUFC owned by The Fat Controller you’re talking about. I think we’ll only get three players maximum, but hey, who knows…
124 LGFUAD21 // Jul 3, 2012 at 1:54 AM

I’d personally rather have Gameiro than De Jong at the difference in price.

Fair enough he shunned us last season but that was to go to PSG who most people expected to win the title this season.

De Jong looks great but at that price from a reported £20m budget i’d rather go for something a little cheaper. Cant see how we can offer him what he wants in terms of playing time etc.

Not to be a negger but if he signs I think it is quite a good indicator that Ba is offski. Why else would we spend that amount, or bid, for a 3rd striker (not 3rd choice necessarily but a 3rd)

Im still gonan go with my theory that it is a smokescreen while we steal Hoillett.

My ideal window.

Debuchy (and keep Simmo as backup)
Hoillett
Gameiro (had a ‘poor’ season, still clocked 11 goals and 2 assists)
Luc Castaignos (purely because Liverscum fans seem convinced he is there’s)
Vurnon Anita (versatile and well rounded as a player)
125 FootballPsycho // Jul 3, 2012 at 2:29 AM

GeordieToon89

I think you have just found the missing piece to my conspiracy jigsaw. When Pardew on BBC Radio Newcastle said that he was interested in signing a “close pal” of Cabaye’s, he never said who. This was probably because he knew everyone would assume it was Debuchy as we had been linked with him prior and his friendship was very well publicised. Maybe the close pal is Mirallas, which would explain the Luuk de Jong smokescreen, and Debuchy is the smokescreen for Rosales, and Douglas could be the smokescreen for Alderweireld; the rumours about him have gone quite cold haven’t they…hmmm…and Gameiro would just arrive without a smokescreen shield under the radar.
126 Twatter // Jul 3, 2012 at 3:03 AM

It’s all smoke and mirrors at Fat Mike’s Mystic Emporium…
127 chris_g // Jul 3, 2012 at 5:23 AM

GeordieToon89 & FootballPsycho

Great minds think alike I also thought that Mirallas might be the real target, and mentioned it a few weeks ago on one of the other blogs

Chris G says:
May 13, 2012 at 01:37

Andy @45
You never know, it might even be three good friends who could be with us

Hazard said: “At that time, Yohan was close to Kevin Mirallas another Belgian player, and eventually, I got closer to them.”

Interestingly, Mirallas is a player we’ve been linked with already and he certainly looks to be the type of guy we’d be after:

http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/2012/02/23/2923369/newcastle-everton-among-four-premier-league-sides-in-race-for-6m-
128 redondo77 // Jul 3, 2012 at 5:28 AM

http://www.nufcfans.co.uk/former-toon-star-considers-nuwfc-sponsorship/

how to donate NUWFC?
129 ROSHAN MAGPIE // Jul 3, 2012 at 5:46 AM

I am sick of this de jong saga I am damm sure that no one will pay more than 10million pounds for a forward whose contract ends next season if I was in place of Derek I would have said this is our last offer accept it or f off
130 ROSHAN MAGPIE // Jul 3, 2012 at 5:48 AM

ha ha
131 ROSHAN MAGPIE // Jul 3, 2012 at 5:50 AM

I am sick of this de jong saga I am damm sure that no one will pay more than 10million pounds for a forward whose contract ends next season if I was in place of Derek I would have said this is our last offer accept it or buzz off
132 davybtoon // Jul 3, 2012 at 7:05 AM

Like the smokescreen theory I certainly wouldn’t b suprised If we got Rosales instead of debuchy n mirallas I stead of de Jong
Douglas is our main reason for talks with twente I reckon
133 FloridaToon // Jul 3, 2012 at 7:36 AM

No new de Jong or Douglas news? Something odd going on.
134 redondo77 // Jul 3, 2012 at 7:40 AM

davyb

I’m thinking the same thing as you are.
Our targets on papers are high profile targets and other clubs already know our transfer success last season, they will try to outbid our targets. Our real targets will be players unknown and no publicity. I don’t think that DeJong will be joining, probably Douglas. If Lille accept 6m bid then Debuchy will also join.
135 Whistler // Jul 3, 2012 at 7:44 AM

I think some are reading too much into rumour and speculation on here….smokescreens? conspiracies? been reading too many John Le Carre novels have we?
136 FloridaToon // Jul 3, 2012 at 7:52 AM

Maybe DL has been waiting on the Best money before finalizing the fee for de jong and douglas.
137 toons4eva // Jul 3, 2012 at 7:55 AM

guys…..the player we need to get is lery fer..he is much better than anita….and he has played with tim krul in u 21 that willhelp him get here….also he has pace strength and is a good dribbler and he s not in the starting eleven of twente as he often comes as a sub……jus like tiote was…..think there is a bargain there………
138 Valci // Jul 3, 2012 at 8:01 AM

@Whistler

Hehe…i agree mate. I don’t think everything is being done “cloak and dagger” style either although some speculation is bound to come true. It’s 50-50 really and it’s all in good fun.

To add my own opinion to the speculation i’d say we get Debuchy and probably Douglas (if it isnt tied to de Jong). I hope we also get Anita who would be great next to Tiote in a 4-2-3-1 (i’m biased towards that style). I don’t belive we will get de Jong and personally i don’t rate him anywhere near 15mil so i wouldnt mind the club pulling out after a rejected 10-12mil bid (if that is true).

Personally i would like us to bring in Toivonen as per the rumor a few days ago. At 5-6mil he is a bargain. He has the presence and heading ability of AC plus better first touch, technique and pace.
139 FloridaToon // Jul 3, 2012 at 8:07 AM

Link below says 14 mil euro bid rejected by FC Twente for de jong and we will look for someone else.

ttp://www.elfvoetbal.nl/nieuws/196699_newcastle-heeft-genoeg-van-fc-twente-en-de-jong
140 Indian Magpie // Jul 3, 2012 at 8:14 AM

I say DL should Gift mclaren or their MD an Umbrella and come on home
141 Ben3arfa // Jul 3, 2012 at 8:17 AM

Mark Douglas both Douglas and Luuk De Jong deals are both set to hit the rocks

Mark Douglas ?@MsiDouglas

Not looking good on de Jong OR Douglas,I’m afraid. But Cisse WILL be with #nufc for pre-season after Olympic call blocked. More in Journal
142 jesperfuglsang // Jul 3, 2012 at 8:20 AM

NUFC wants value for their money and they want the best deal possible; it is hard to imagine that de Jong, 21 of age, haven’t been Twente’s #9 for a year, will cost NUFC £ 15 mil is the best deal possible and most value for their money???

The same could be said about Douglas; both DL and LC will know that if they wait until nest summer they can get him for free and maximize their profit with £ 5 mil, if rumors are true.

…for those reason’s alone I cannot see any of these deals happening – not saying I would mind if they did
143 jesperfuglsang // Jul 3, 2012 at 8:23 AM

Is this Mark Douglas sitting at the table whenever NUFC is negotiating a deal?

…he seems to know a awful lot about nothing!
144 Indian Magpie // Jul 3, 2012 at 8:24 AM

Jesper

what if because of it we finish 2 positions lower and fail to qualify for Europa, all the profits are equalised.
145 jesperfuglsang // Jul 3, 2012 at 8:41 AM

Indian

all that is just speculations; what if we spend that much and finish 10th?

…there are no guarantees mate
146 jesperfuglsang // Jul 3, 2012 at 8:45 AM

Indian

you could also ask yourself if we could gt a +15 goalscorer for less than £ 15 mil? or if Douglas will get us the +5 goals a season we need not let alone safeguard Krul better?

…I am not so sure about Douglas. Just my opinion.