Ben Arfa delight at deal

Winger signs four-and-a-half year contract following loan deal

Last updated: 5th January 2011  

Ben Arfa delight at deal

Ben Arfa: Delighted with deal

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Newcastle United have confirmed the permanent signing of France international Hatem Ben Arfa on a four-and-a-half year contract.

Sky Sports revealed earlier on Wednesday that Ben Arfa was on the verge of finalising a long-term stay at St James' Park after joining on loan from Marseille in the summer.

Ben Arfa is currently recovering from a double leg fracture suffered against Manchester City in October and has been restricted to just four appearances for the Magpies.

However, the 23-year-old is focused on his recovery and is delighted to have wrapped up a deal to stay with the Premier League club until 2015.

Very happy

"I am absolutely delighted to be signing for Newcastle United on a permanent basis," Ben Arfa told the club's official website.

"During my short time at the club, I thoroughly enjoyed playing for the team and for the supporters too. This is a great club and I am very happy to be committing my future to them.

"I am getting back to fitness as quickly as I can and am really looking forward to getting back to St James' Park, seeing the lads again and of course working with Alan Pardew and his staff.

"During my time out, I have been inundated with messages of support from fans and I want to repay them all with good performances on the pitch later this season."

Priority

Manager Alan Pardew added: "When I came to the club last month, one of my priorities was to secure Hatem on a permanent deal.

"The last thing I wanted was for us to lose him when his loan ended so we're really pleased to have agreed that deal today.

"He's obviously a top player and he's shown that in France, at international level and in his short time here at Newcastle.

"I'm delighted to secure Hatem as my first signing and once he's back fit, I have no doubt he'll confirm just what a superb player he is."Bet now

Comments (4)

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Tom Peters (Newcastle United fan) says...

Last time we signed a player who had just had a broken leg we got Alan Smith and what an expensive mistake that was. Everyone talks about the goal Ben Arfa got against Everton but not his anonymous performance against Stoke the following week. He's the right age and has talent but like all signings there is a risk

Posted 10:54 5th January 2011

Colin Mccarroll (Newcastle United fan) says...

Absolutely brilliant news to have Ben Arfa sign on a permanent deal. This lad has real talent and prospects and will be a legend at St.James' Park! Hope he recovers quickly and gets back on that pitch showing his talent and scoring goals again!

Posted 10:43 5th January 2011

H D (Newcastle United fan) says...

Fantastic. A good move by Pardew to please the fans. Quite a diplomat giving us what we want without knowing much about the guy himself.

Posted 10:25 5th January 2011

John Bacon (Newcastle United fan) says...

Well done Benny can't wait until you get back to full fitness and pull on the toon shirt again! It proves all those people wrong saying that you had just joined us on loan to move to a bigger club! We might not have won anything major for a while to class us as a big club but when you look at our history, ticket sales, the size and atmosphere of our ground you cant really do much better! Not like all these glory supporters/Man Utd fans we will stick by our team through the good times and bad, again hatem well done mate and get well soon!

Posted 10:21 5th January 2011
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