Trippier to join Saudi-owned Newcastle United
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Saudi-owned football club Newcastle United is set to welcome its first signing since the Saudi sportswashing.
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The defender was part of the England side that reached the final of Euro 2020 last summer.
Atletico Madrid's Kieran Trippier move to the English side Newcastle United is done, all that is left is waiting for the official announcement, confirmed Italian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano.
According to the Italian, Atletico and Newcastle have signed the player's papers and the deal was sealed.
Kieran Trippier deal now sealed. Paperworks have been signed between Newcastle and Atléti, medical to be completed right now and then official statement in place. Here we go confirmed. 🤝🏴 #NUFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 5, 2022
Trippier will be announced as first new signing of Saudi ownership. pic.twitter.com/xeOlwONoLt
Trippier, 31, will be Newcastle's first signing under the club's new Saudi ownership and manager Eddie Howe since taking charge in November, succeeding Steve Bruce.
The player joined Atletico Madrid in 2019 coming from Tottenham for £20m ($27m). In Spain, he made 83 appearances in last year's Spanish La Liga champions.
The defender was part of the England side that reached the final of Euro 2020 last summer.
Currently, Newcastle United is located 19th in the English Premier League table, with one win only during the ongoing season.
Saudi Sportswashing
The club is now 80%-owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Referring to the Saudi takeover, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp commented that "Newcastle fans will love it, but money doesn't buy success."
Amnesty International has condemned the Premier League's decision to give the green light to the takeover, accusing Saudi Arabia of using its involvement in English football to "sportswash" its poor human rights record.
The Saudi state has been accused of human rights violations and an alleged piracy dispute with Qatari sports broadcaster beIN Sports over broadcasting rights.
Hatice Cengiz, the fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, criticized the takeover of Newcastle United by a Saudi-led consortium, accusing the club of only thinking of money.
Western intelligence agencies accuse bin Salman of authorizing the murder of the Washington Post contributor that was killed in 2018 inside Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul.
