Newcastle have confirmed the signing of Chris Wood from Burnley for an undisclosed fee. The 30-year-old becomes Eddie Howe’s second capture of the window signing a two-and-a-half-year contract.
All Black and White. ??
Welcome, @officialcwood! ????
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 13, 2022
The move happened quickly as Newcastle triggered a release clause, which has been confirmed by Burnley, in Wood’s contract on Tuesday. It has been a whirlwind few days for the Kiwi as he follows Kieran Trippier through the door as a pivotal signing in the new era.
Here is what the 30-year-old, who will wear the number 20 shirt, said about joining Newcastle United:
“This is a very exciting opportunity for me and I’m delighted to be a Newcastle United player.
“I have played at St. James’ Park a few times and it’s an amazing place, so to have the chance to represent this club with those incredible supporters behind me and my teammates is very special.
“The club and manager have been first class during this process, and I really can’t wait to get onto the pitch and repay the faith they have in me, especially with a vital part of the season ahead of us.”
Wood is a proven Premier League goalscorer with over 50 goals at Turf Moor. He joins in time to play a part in our six-pointer against Watford on Saturday. Our desperate need for goals played a major role in this signing.
Head coach Eddie Howe is delighted to have an experienced striker like Wood on board. Here is what he said about his latest signing:
“Chris is an important signing for us at a crucial time and I’m very pleased we have been able to move quickly and bring him here.
“He is a very dangerous attacking threat, has a physicality and character that I really like, and he has vast experience in the Premier League. He will be a great fit for us.”
This could be a very astute addition for Newcastle’s survival push. Wood is experienced, a pain for defenders, and can find the back of the net. Hopefully, he will be a hit on Tyneside and score some of the goals to see us to safety.
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56 comments so far
DayvanCowboy
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:29 AM
Comment #41Thanks for the clear-up on that Simon, seen one or the other stated numerous times this week, not sure why people need to complicate it haha.
simon376
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:30 AM
Comment #42In full:
Rule U.23. in the Premier League Handbook states: “Subject to the provisions of Rule V.1, the deadline for receipt by the Board of all duly completed documents required by these Rules to effect the registration of a Player shall be 12 noon on the last Working Day before the date of the first League Match in which the Club making the application intends him to play, save that the international transfer certificate and evidence of eligibility to take up employment in the United Kingdom (in both cases if applicable) may be provided thereafter (but must be provided before the Player is eligible to play for a Club in a League Match).”
simon376
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:31 AM
Comment #43No bother Dayvancowboy, just got to hope we can get 1 or 2 more by 12pm tomorrow
Adamn_92
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:31 AM
Comment #44If Willock pulls his finger out he could benefit hugely from Wood. Wood can hold the ball up or flick it on very effectively. He’ll draw out a center half to mark him which leaves space in behind him. A flick on or hold up play and quickly laying it off would allow someone like Willock to break forward from midfield and find space. Willock was great at that last season but looks totally lost this season.
Same with Cantwell if we were to sign him and he was given that attacking midfielder type role. He’d benefit from playing close to Wood for flick ons or link up play that would take a defender out of the game and give him a clear run at the heart of the opposition defence.
The Dyslexic God
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:32 AM
Comment #45From that I take it was simon376 who published this yesterday. Very informative.
Mund
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:33 AM
Comment #46Callum Wilson: “While I’m out injured, I don’t think you’re going to get a better striker in the bottom half of the league than Chris Wood. He will be a great addition.” #nufc
SuperShearer
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:33 AM
Comment #47The other thing I noticed about Wood against us last season is he’s very good at running the channels – because of his size I was really impressed by this, he’s willing to drift wide which will allow players like ASM to drift in. This causes panic in defenders because they don’t know who to mark.
Wilson is amazing at running the channels so if they both work hard at doing this it will create space for players like ASM and Almiron – ASM in particular is often triple-marked by defenders, it’s because they know he’s a key threat, nullify him and you take a lot of sting out of our attack – but if you have players coming to support him he’s lethal. We saw this against Man U when Big Joe came in close to help him out when they put more men on him.
The more I look at it the smarter this move becomes and like someone else said, it’s following a tried and tested model of other takeovers where you buy proven PL players and supplement with exciting young talent from elsewhere.
Davas28
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:33 AM
Comment #48Pleased to have Wood in. It’s great to know that even of we have difficulty in bringing players in, it’s not through lack of effort from the owners, unlike the previous years.
scott
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:36 AM
Comment #49Lord scattermorecash
Your looking at one dimension of his game with crosses into the box!
To be honest I believe that is only part of the reason he has been brought in! The one thing we really have in our team is pace!
If you have time today could I ask you to watch our game in full against Burnley where Wood dominated our centre half’s all game, he won flick ons for one runner (Cornet) or brought it down & fed it to him all game!
If you can watch it then imagine ASM,Willock,Fraser,Murphy,Miggy & big joe feeding off that will add a whole new dimension to our play imo! but I will concede it was against our defence! 🙂
webbonufc
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:37 AM
Comment #50Defoe next. Pay as you play. Guaranteed goals. Full game every now and again and last 20-30 mins of a game. Show our young ones how to finish. Howe signed him for Bournemouth didn’t he?
Vask
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:38 AM
Comment #51I understand that wood is seen as a bit of a target man and that he gets on the end of crosses but how many of his 50PL goals were actually scored from crosses? I counted 17 from crosses in open play. Watching all of his goals he is not as one dimensional as some are making out.
Looking more and more like a very astute piece of business.
The Dyslexic God
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:39 AM
Comment #52Scott, that is a Toon dog!
ShaytoStay
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:40 AM
Comment #53Here’s a fact everyone is missing seeing as Wilson is out injured. Imagine him and wood battering the oppositions defence. If we play with 2 strikers and have trippier on the right is this the new Shearer, Ferdinand and solano combo
Laurent Robert 32
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:42 AM
Comment #54New owners with no Premier League experience come in and within two weeks have already signed a couple of players. Refreshing to see at last.
TheTinman
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:43 AM
Comment #55Scattermosh, don’t understand the negativity. He’s our player now and he will be starting in the biggest game of our season.
Would you have rather started Eric Ben Mthabisi who scored 15 goals in Ligue 1 last year who doesn’t speak a word of English?
Literally everybody in our team knows who Chris Wood is and knows his game. Coaching some intricate passing and movement to cut teams open through the middle takes time. Getting men wide and putting balls into the box is another. Very easy to adapt to that style of play.
TheTinman
Jan 13, 2022 at 10:44 AM
Comment #56Webbonufc
I thought about him a few days ago, he’s almost 40