Newcastle United have signed Serbia youth international defender Miodrag Pivas from FK Jedinstvo.
The 19-year-old, who can play in defence and midfield, was tracked by the club’s recruitment team throughout the 2023-24 campaign and he visited Tyneside last month, where he held talks with club executives.
Pivas started his career playing for Austrian regional sides UFC Siezenheim and SV Grodig, before joining Jedinstvo last year.
Although he started in the youth side, he was promoted to the senior team and was an ever-present by the end of a campaign which saw Jedinstvo promoted to the Serbia Prva Liga, having finished as runners-up in the second tier.
The former Serbia Under-17 international made 35 appearances across all competitions. He is versatile, able to play at centre-back, on the right of the defence, as a defensive midfielder or even as an attacking midfielder.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable to join such a big club like Newcastle United and I cannot wait to get started,” Pivas told the club’s website. “I see the project of the club and it looks great which helped convince me to sign for Newcastle.
✍️ We are delighted to announce the signing of promising Serbian defender Miodrag Pivaš from FK Jedinstvo Ub.
Welcome to Newcastle United, Miodrag! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/KLRwBQ5edh
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 20, 2024
“I see the young players have developed very well here and I would like to do the same — to develop and get into Newcastle’s first team. I’m very excited and I can’t wait to begin.”
Newcastle are continuing to try and improve the quality of their youth player pool by investing in young, up-and-coming signings.
Yankuba Minteh was bought for £6.5million from Odense last summer and then sold for more than £30m to Brighton this summer, while Garang Kuol joined from Central Coast Mariners in January 2023 and Alfie Harrison arrived from Manchester City earlier this year.
Pivas is the latest addition, but further signings will be made this summer.
“Miodrag is a promising talent with high potential,” Darren Eales, Newcastle’s CEO, said. “Our recruitment network is continuing to watch young players like Miodrag around the world with a view to identifying and developing them into first-team players of the future.
“We are pleased to welcome him to Newcastle United and we look forward to supporting his development at this important stage of his career.”
GO DEEPER
Transfers, ownership, PSR and season aims – an audience with Newcastle CEO Eales
(Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
