Newcastle United have completed the signing of full-back Amar Dedic from Benfica in a transfer worth approximately £30m, with the Bosnia-Herzegovina international putting pen to paper on a five-year contract. The 24-year-old passed a medical on Tyneside on Monday before the move was confirmed on Tuesday, which also happened to be his birthday.
The switch reunites Dedic with head coach Matthias Jaissle, under whom he claimed the Austrian league title while at Red Bull Salzburg back in 2023.
"It's a special feeling and a really big honour for me to join Newcastle United," he said after the move was announced on Tuesday, his 24th birthday.
"I'm really happy to be here and can't wait to start playing for the club and the amazing fans."
"Working with Matthias again was a big factor for me. We know each other well. He knows what I can bring on the pitch and I'm really happy to be playing for him again."
"Playing Premier League football at St James' Park is going to be really special. Every game feels like a big occasion, with an amazing atmosphere. I'm really excited to get started."
How much did Newcastle actually pay?
Reported figures vary depending on the source. According to ESPN, the fee was around £29.5m, while Transfermarkt put the total package, including add-ons and a future resale clause, at closer to €35m. A Portuguese outlet, A Bola, reported that only bureaucratic formalities remained before the deal was formally announced. Transfermarkt also reported that Dedic's contract runs until June 2031, a year longer than the five-year term stated by the club.
What led up to the transfer?
Dedic's release clause at Benfica had reportedly stood at €50m, though The Athletic indicated Newcastle were always expected to pay well below that figure, with talks still ongoing as of 13 August 2026. Separately, Plataforma Media reported that Benfica had initially sought around €35m while Newcastle pushed for a fee nearer €30m. Bosnian outlet Klix reported that Dedic had already agreed personal terms with Newcastle before the two clubs settled on a fee.
What happens next?
With the medical completed on Tyneside on Monday, 18 August 2026, attention now turns to Dedic's registration and integration into Jaissle's squad ahead of upcoming Premier League fixtures. A Bola had indicated that the announcement was only awaiting the completion of formal paperwork and protocols, suggesting the club moved quickly once those final steps were cleared.
Key Facts
- Amar Dedic joins Newcastle United from Benfica for around £30m.
- He has signed a five-year deal, though Transfermarkt reports the contract runs until June 2031.
- He reunites with manager Matthias Jaissle, with whom he won the Austrian title at Red Bull Salzburg in 2023.
- Reported fee figures range from roughly £29.5m to around €35m, including add-ons.
- Dedic started three of Bosnia-Herzegovina's four matches at the World Cup.
