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Federico Fernandez: Newcastle sign defender from Swansea

Last updated on .From the section Newcastlecomments45

Federico Fernandez
Fernandez (left) played 128 times for Swansea

Newcastle have signed Argentina defender Federico Fernandez from Championship side Swansea for a reportedexternal-link £6m fee on a two-year deal.

The 29-year-old played under Magpies boss Rafael Benitez at Napoli, where he won two Coppa Italia titles, before joining Swansea in 2014.

Fernandez played 128 games at the Liberty Stadium, scoring twice.

"It was a long day but I'm really happy to be here," said Fernandez.external-link "It is a new challenge in my life."

Benitez added: "I know Federico well from our time together at Napoli and it was an easy decision to bring him here.

"He is experienced, a very good professional and he will add competition in defence."

Fernandez becomes Newcastle's seventh signing of the summer transfer window, joining goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, defender Fabian Schar, midfielders Ki Sung-yeung and Kenedy, and strikers Salomon Rondon and Yoshinori Muto.

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

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45 comments

  • Comment posted by Razor Sharpster, at 19:38 9 Aug 2018

    Savvy signing by Rafa - Fernández knows him & he has PL experience. I reckon they'll be finishing mid-table this season.

    However Benitez is by far the best signing under Ashley. Newcastle are lucky to have a top class manager who will again get them punching well above their weight under difficult circumstances.

    Newcastle deserve better than a heartless, gutless entrepreneur owning them.

  • Comment posted by Terry, at 19:17 9 Aug 2018

    Knows the league. Rafa knows him. He and lascelles will be the main pairing. Got rid gayle and mitrovic who got 6 goals btwn them with rondon as main striker. Not great window but ok

  • Comment posted by Toby, at 19:47 9 Aug 2018

    "He will add competition in defence" - hardly a marquee signing - Ashley shopping in the bargain bucket again. It's a shame, as Benitez would deliver the goods if he had the investment behind him.

  • Comment posted by D1679320010532, at 20:29 9 Aug 2018

    A rag tag band of misfits and journeymen, but if anyone can get them playing as a team and avoid relegation then it's Rafa. I'd not trust any current Prem manager to do what he's done in the past two years, getting them up and keeping them up would be beyond the other 19 managers - even the one I support and have tons of respect for. I can totally understand why Toon fans are so loyal to him.

  • Comment posted by tony bailey, at 20:35 9 Aug 2018

    Before you dismiss signings from a championship side there are many players down there that could be holding their own in the PL , if it wasn't for expensive imports , on average there are 85% of a PL squad are imports,

  • Comment posted by Julio Laker, at 20:07 9 Aug 2018

    It's a worry that we've signed 3 players from relegated EPL teams, one from a relegated Spanish team and one from a German team that narrowly avoided relegation. Hardly inspiring but Rafa will keep us in the lower mid table at least in the hope that someone buys us. Fulham however are splashing the cash like financial fair play doesn't exist!!

  • Comment posted by IAN ROBSON, at 20:39 9 Aug 2018

    We need to get forward in numbers and get the ball into the last third quickly as we did in the second half of last season, particularly at home, avoid too many injuries to a wafer thin squad and hope it's enough to earn sufficient points to overcome the general lack of quality in the Premiership(on the evidence of last season with only a few exceptions).

  • Comment posted by stellatorty, at 19:08 9 Aug 2018

    There is a protest planned against Cashley before the first game. Wish he'd take the hint!

  • Comment posted by Baron of Brierdene, at 20:33 9 Aug 2018

    It will be interesting to hear how our chairman explains this window as backing the manager with everything he generates. Other than all our sales have been based on £99 down and only a little a month whilst our (few) purchases have been written off straight away so creating an accounting solution to the recurring lie.

  • Comment posted by johnty, at 19:04 9 Aug 2018

    Champions league spot nailed on now! Mike ashley, Do one

  • Comment posted by D1710522958042, at 21:39 9 Aug 2018

    He's in to cover for Lejuene while he's injured. Logic is he already knows Rafa's style of playing out of defence. Desperately short of LB cover for Dummett and still a decent striker and no 10 short. A profit of about £25million in this window tells you all you need to know about Ashley's diminishing commitment to the club's success. 17th would be his perfect finish every season.

  • Comment posted by benny tez, at 19:17 9 Aug 2018

    11 out of 10 years of European football before Ashley.

    1 out of 11 years since Ashley.

    Says everything you need to know

  • Comment posted by DutchMagpie, at 21:27 9 Aug 2018

    Sports Direct Owner has us shopping in the bargain bins. what's to be surprised about?

  • Comment posted by ajaxtreesdown11, at 19:36 9 Aug 2018

    If Benitez stays, Newcastle should have enough to stay up with the bit of additional depth/quality they have added.

  • Comment posted by benny tez, at 19:21 9 Aug 2018

    5. * 10 out of 11 i meant. The gin is string tonight 😂😂

  • Comment posted by Dirk Bowden, at 09:07 10 Aug 2018

    @8 "Newcastle deserve better than a heartless, gutless entrepreneur owning them."

    Mike Ashley is hardly gutless...

  • Comment posted by dbambrough, at 07:42 10 Aug 2018

    Not impressed by our signings but, if anybody can get them playing as an effective team it is Rafa. Other clubs have done a lot worse with a lot better than we did last season.

  • Comment posted by JonC1200, at 19:05 9 Aug 2018

    Nothing more than a squad player. Can't see him getting much playing time behind Lascelles, Clark, Lejeune (when fit) or Schar. But frankly what a lack of ambition has been shown by the club again. My prediction: a season of struggle, we will avoid relegation by a whisker and Rafa will leave at the end of the year. Ashley out!

  • Comment posted by Barney, at 10:03 10 Aug 2018

    With half a new team arriving, I still can’t decide if it’s been a great window by Rafa or a terrrible one by Ashley.

    If anyone here wonders why your typical mag is considered a joke outside of the Geordie Naeshun, evidence is provided at comment 32.

  • Comment posted by GSC38BW, at 09:45 10 Aug 2018

    32: Are you serious?.....