Sels becomes Newcastle’s first signing of the season and joins on a five-year-deal.
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Sels said: “I’m very pleased – I’m very happy to be here”.
He told the club’s official website: “I am really pleased to welcome Matz to the club”.
The Magpies have moved swiftly to try to beat the competition to the signature of Gent goalkeeper Matz Sels.
‘As soon as Newcastle showed their interest in me, and I spoke to the coach, Rafa Benitez, it was an easy decision to make’.
The Belgium Under 21 global has completed a £4.5million transfer, signing a five-year contract in the process.
He has a Belgian Pro League winners’ medal with Gent in 2014/15 and brings Champions League experience to Tyneside.
Sels arrives with a big reputation as a potential future star and will immediately challenge for the number one spot with the now injured pair of Rob Elliot and Tim Krul – whilst Karl Darlow will also be hoping to keep Sels out of the first-team picture.
Krul has been highly linked with Everton so far in this summer transfer window.
So click through the slides below to see the best pictures from the last few years of his career – and you might even spot a few Toon players in there!
Elliot and Darlow’s grabbed their first team chances with both hands, however that may have not been enough.
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Sels will challenge Karl Darlow for the No 1 jersey, with youngster Freddie Woodman likely to be allowed out on loan again. The Sels signing suggests that Benitez had a lack of trust in goalkeeping departing.
