The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Almiron transfer to EPL complete
Newcastle pays $27 million, largest ever fee for an MLS player.
Miguel Almiron’s record-setting transfer from Atlanta United in MLS to Newcastle in the Premier League is complete.
The 24-year-old Paraguayan midfielder signed a 5½-year deal with the English club.
The transfer fee is reportedly $27 million, the most ever for a player from MLS. Atlanta United is expected to recoup approximately $22 million to $23 million.
Atlanta United did not disclose the transfer fee, but acknowledged in an announcement of the deal that it breaks the MLS alltime record.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the first to report the news of Almiron’s sale on Tuesday.
“I’m very happy and eager to start and to meet my new teammates,” Almiron told NUFC TV. “The league is very competitive, this is a historic club, and Rafa Benitez himself were the main reasons why I am here now.
“I think it is a great responsibility, something beautiful for me, and I will try to offer the best I can to repay the trust the club put in me.”
Almiron scored 21 goals and added 28 assists for Atlanta United the past two regular seasons.
He led the team to the MLS Cup in 2018, finished second in the MVP voting to Josef Martinez and was twice named an All-Star. He finished with 22 goals and 30 assists in all competitions.
“We were following Miguel Almiron for a while, and we saw a player with some pace in attack, who can play behind the striker. We have someone who can score goals and give assists,” Newcastle manager Benitez was quoted as saying on the team’s website.
“We know that MLS is a different challenge to the Premier League but he has the potential to do what we are expecting, and what we need.”
Newcastle is in 14th place in the Premier League with 24 points, five ahead of the three teams in the relegation zone.
Atlanta United manager Frank De Boer said Thursday that he expects several players will step into Almiron’s role as a playmaker and scorer. De Boer said Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez, introduced by the club last week, is showing characteristics as a player similar to Almiron.
“He’s proven that he’s a quality player,” de Boer said of Martinez. “If you can at that age do that in the Argentine league, I have confidence he can show that.”
Martinez was voted the South American Player of the Year in 2018 after leading River Plate to the Copa Libertadores title over rivals Boca Junior.
De Boer also said that Ezequiel Barco and Hector Villalba have the potential to contribute to help offset the loss of Almiron.
“Barco is progressing every week better,” de Boer said. “He’s still very young but has amazing quality.”