Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle United.
Minteh, 19, has signed a five-year deal with Brighton, who agreed a fee in the region of £33million for Minteh on Saturday with talks over personal terms following that evening.
Brighton technical director David Weir said upon the announcement: “Yankuba is a young talent that has attracted a lot of interest, so we’re delighted to welcome him to the club.
“He is an exciting attacking player with incredible speed. He had a very impressive campaign with Feyenoord, gaining experience in both the Champions League and Europa League.
“Now we will give him the time and support he needs to ensure that he settles in.”
We are pleased to confirm the signing of Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle United! 🤝
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) June 30, 2024
Newcastle held talks with multiple clubs over deals that could potentially ease their difficulties in complying with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) by the June 30 deadline. Those included discussions with Nottingham Forest over a possible deal for Minteh and academy graduate Elliot Anderson. Later on Saturday, Forest agreed a deal with Newcastle to sign Anderson.
Failing to be PSR-compliant would potentially leave Newcastle open to a points deduction, as happened to Forest and Everton during the 2023-24 season. Newly-promoted Leicester City are also anticipating a points deduction to come in the new season.
Minteh had been made available due to Newcastle’s PSR issues and at one stage, it looked like he would join French side Lyon. The Gambia international, though, wanted to remain in the Premier League and saw a move to Everton break down over Newcastle’s failure to agree personal terms with striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who would have come the other way.
Minteh joined Newcastle from Odense Balkub in Denmark last summer and spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Feyenoord. He scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 27 league games for the Dutch club.
Minteh becomes Brighton’s first summer signing, although the south-coast club did agree a deal to sign Ghanian winger Ibrahim Osman from Nordsjaelland in February.
GO DEEPER
Why Newcastle are open to selling Yankuba Minteh – despite the hype
(Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)
