We reported this morning that Newcastle were close to signing 20 year former Arsenal center-back Stefan O’Connor, who was released last month by the Gunners.
And would you believe it but Newcastle have announced the signing of two young center-backs – with the other one being 19 year-old center-back Josef Yarney from Everton.
Yarney has recently been released by Everton, but Rafa Benitez seems to like the look of both these young players and that’s good enough for us.
Both will be part of Peter Beardsley’s U23 squad for the coming season and will have a chance to quickly prove themselves at Newcastle United.
20 year-old Stefan O’Connor from Arsenal and 19 year-old Josef Yarney from Everton
Cheer up lads you’ll enjoy it at Newcastle
🙂
Here’s what is on the Everton website about Yarney:
Defender Josef Yarney signed scholarship forms at Everton in the summer of 2014, having already been at the Club for a number of years.
Comfortable on the ball, the tall teenager went into the Under-18s group for the 2014/15 campaign.
He left the Blues upon the expiration of his contract on 1 July 2017.
And here’s some very good information about the two youngsters put out on the Newcastle web-site today:
Stefan O’Connor is a central defender and said to be comfortable at both center-back and right-back and has represented England U-17’s, making just one senior appearance for Arsenal.
He came on for the final 13 minutes in their 4-1 away win against Galatasaray in the 2014 Champions League group stages. (note: would you he replaced former Newcastle right-back Mathieu Debuchy).
19-year-old Yarney is also primarily a center-back and progressed through the ranks at Everton before being released this summer.
O’Connor, 20, and Yarney, 19, have both put pen to paper on contracts at St. James’ Park, and will link up with Peter Beardsley and Ben Dawson’s U23s squad.
London-born center half O’Connor joins the Magpies after leaving Arsenal in the summer, where he had spent seven years since signing from Crystal Palace.
Yarney is also a defender, and arrives on Tyneside after leaving Everton earlier in the summer.
While at Goodison Park, the Liverpool-born youngster progressed through the ranks to second-string level, making three appearances for the Toffees’ U23s side in the Checkatrade Trophy last term.”
He featured once as a trialist for the Magpies’ Under-23s last season, coming on as a substitute during their final Premier League 2 game of the season, a 2-0 victory at Middlesbrough in April.”
Both players have begun pre-season training with the rest of United’s development squad at the Little Benton Academy, and could feature when the U23s travel to Darlington for their first pre-season friendly on Monday, 17th July.”
Meanwhile, United have received international clearance for fellow youngsters Juanito and Tyrique Bartlett.
These are important signings for the cub and we only need one or two top youngsters to come through to the first team squad every couple of years and things will have paid off big time.
Rafa is very keen to get a good stream of players coming through at Newcastle, much like he set up at Liverpool where the Liverpool youth sides and reserve sides were top teams when Rafa was on Merseyside for six years from 2004.
Good news today about these newly signed youngsters and also good news to get International clearance for Juanito and Tyrique Bartlett.
Now to get first team players through the door!
Comments welcome.
33 comments so far
andrew84
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:38 PM
Comment #1That’s great, getting the players for the future sorted. Now let’s concentrate on getting some PL-ready ones in through the door.
Toonces
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:41 PM
Comment #2From last post…
TOF – would you have posted that quote from “expat” if it had been positive about Lejeune?
You like to trash everything that NUFC does, especially Rafa. Funny how you have been in exile since the end of the championship winning season. No audience for your doom and gloom then. Have you ever posted anything positive?
Well here is a link to an Eibar interview by NUFC360 about Lejeune – they seem to like him a bit more than your friend but it is a balanced look – pros and cons. Any thoughts on this?
http://newcastle360.com/2017/07/06/qa-eibarusa-new-singing-florian-lejeune/
And here is an article on PL.com about how Lejeune measures up statistically last season and say he could be a very good addition. Any thoughts there?
https://www.premierleague.com/news/426442
who knows if Lejeune will cut it in the end, but I don’t see why you would take so much pleasure in trashing Lejeune at your first opportunity when there are more well rounded views on the player to start with.
And maybe Rafa can put Lejeune on the Gary Cahill work out system. Get them arms bulging!
HWTL!
jazzyp
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:42 PM
Comment #3Good luck lads. We gonna need ya
ShirebrookToon
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:48 PM
Comment #4Jazzy,
We may see them in the first team sooner rather than later If we keep dragging our heels on paying the going rate for players lol
ShirebrookToon
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:50 PM
Comment #5Mark,
From previous on Gayle. Wolves might stretch to 20 mil for him. They chucking money about like nowt lol
Markaccus
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:50 PM
Comment #6Useful additions to our academy. We sometimes get caught up in the first team transfer business and forget about future development.
north east lincs toon
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:51 PM
Comment #7Rafa wanted 8 plus players in not a cat in hells chance
Markaccus
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:52 PM
Comment #8Shire
I still doubt we’d let our top scorer go for 20M. Although Mash has done stupider things 😀
jazzyp
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:55 PM
Comment #9Shirebrook
I would have thought we must have more first 11 transfer targets in the pipeline, At a stage where we think there is a good chance of bringing them in.
It seems to have gone a bit to quiet at present mate, But there is a lot of talk regarding Gibbs coming in. Although like you I am surprised we are not looking more in to Jetro Willems
ShirebrookToon
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:59 PM
Comment #10Jazzy,
Yeah Gibbs looks likely. No Willems which is pants but never mind. Aren’t we supposedly close to signing a CAM from a top club in la liga?
ShirebrookToon
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:59 PM
Comment #11Mark,
He’s a power drinker mate. Don’t mess with him lol
jazzyp
Jul 6, 2017 at 2:59 PM
Comment #12Mark
I think it wont be long before 10 million is the norm for a Championship player. And every season we seem to strengthen our underbelly, Yet nobody really comes through the ranks.
Would you say we need first teamers rather than fringe players bringing in this summer??
so-far-king-quick
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:01 PM
Comment #13On a different note the new training gear looks nice, looking forward to the unveiling of the away and third strips, cause lets face it you know the home kit is going to be black and white its hardly a surprise but they can do more work with the others be interesting to see what colours weve gone with
jazzyp
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:02 PM
Comment #14Shirebrook
Hopefully a big player coming in mate. Would be nice as a fan to feel the buzz that the Everton fans must be feeling at the moment
lochinvar
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:05 PM
Comment #15Why even think about Gayle moving on – he’s in tune with how many of his team mates perform – Ritchie, Shelvey etc and has a taste for scoring goals for Newcastle.
Add in some additional physical presence in midfield and up front and he could have a riot against many teams we’ll come against and still poach goals against everyone
jazzyp
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:06 PM
Comment #16ToonBliss?
@ToonBliss
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Hearing that Kovacic is the Midfielder that Newcastle are in talks with #nufc.
Anyone know anything about this player
lochinvar
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:07 PM
Comment #17What happened to the two lads mentioned end of last season from Croatia or the like ?
Both were ” great prospects” so did we give up or are they still possibilities as we seem to be building a strong squad of youngsters to develop and support the first team squad…
ShirebrookToon
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:09 PM
Comment #18Jazzy,
As in the Kovacic at Real Madrid?
Budge123
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:10 PM
Comment #19The lads look made up to be here don’t they!
WWSBRD
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:11 PM
Comment #20jazzy
Aye hes very good and aye its never going to happen haha
jazzyp
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:12 PM
Comment #21Shirebrook
I haven’t got a clue mate. There seems to be strong rumours flying around regarding this lad.
I wondered if it was what you suggested earlier regarding the Cam from La liga
ShirebrookToon
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:13 PM
Comment #22WW
Haha exactly what I was thinking. If it is him. Would be buzzin though of Rafa pulled it off!
Sazzer
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:13 PM
Comment #23jazzyp
toonbliss as ITK or Kovacic?
jazzyp
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:13 PM
Comment #24Wws
To good for us bud ??. Like I say I nothing of him
jazzyp
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:14 PM
Comment #25Sazzer
Kovacic
ShirebrookToon
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:16 PM
Comment #26Jazzy,
If it’s him mate then yes he’s good. I also had Halilvoc in my head as he’s been on loan at Las Palmas from Hamburg.
WWSBRD
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:17 PM
Comment #27Shire
Haha oh aye it’d be incredible but its never gonna happen unless its a loan but even then I think there would be CL level after him
jazzy
Aye mate hes one of those brilliant young player types, star at Inter before Madrid dropped about 25 mill on him a few seasons ago think he is/was seen as the Modric replacement
ShirebrookToon
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:17 PM
Comment #28Halilovic**
jazzyp
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:18 PM
Comment #29Just looked into him and he is available for around the same fee as Samaris who we have been linked with
Markaccus
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:19 PM
Comment #30Jazzy
Yes we absolutely need to add to our first XI. But i have no problem with adding to the younguns at the same time.
ShirebrookToon
Jul 6, 2017 at 3:21 PM
Comment #31Looks like the new head of recruitment isnt fcuking about.
hibbit
Jul 6, 2017 at 4:03 PM
Comment #32would anyone swap Gayle for Ben Gibson at Boro ❓
over the last few weeks been a lot of talk about Ben joining us
DubaiMicky
Jul 7, 2017 at 6:08 AM
Comment #33I wonder what the wages of the U23s are?