Newcastle United have agreed a five-year contract with Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly.
Kelly is expected to undergo a medical and sign the deal, which includes an option to extend by 12 months, this week.
The 25-year-old will officially become a free agent when his Bournemouth terms expire on June 30, with the south-coast club confirming his exit following the end of the 2023-24 season.
Newcastle were keen to finalise a deal for Kelly after missing out on another defensive target in Tosin Adarabioyo, who has joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Fulham.
There had been European interest in Kelly but the Englishman will instead reunite with Eddie Howe, who took him to Bournemouth from Bristol City in 2019.
Kelly’s ability to play at left-back and centre-back was attractive to Newcastle, who had wanted both him and Tosin due to Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles both being out with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Kelly leaves Bournemouth having made 141 appearances for the club in five years.
Howe’s side are also in talks with Burnley over the signing of James Trafford. Newcastle are keen to recruit a younger goalkeeper to act as deputy to Nick Pope and to challenge him in the longer term, following Loris Karius’ exit and with Martin Dubravka appearing increasingly likely to depart.
GO DEEPER
The Transfer DealSheet: Diaz Barca links, Sesko latest, Olise options
‘Lack of fee made Kelly an attractive option’
Analysis by Newcastle correspondent Chris Waugh
Centre-back is very much Newcastle’s priority position to strengthen this summer given the long-term knee injuries suffered by Lascelles and Botman.
Having missed out on Tosin Adarabioyo to Chelsea, Newcastle have been determined to secure Kelly’s signature, given he is someone Howe knows after taking the defender to Bournemouth in 2019, as well as the fact he is versatile and can play as a centre-half or left-back.
The lack of a transfer fee made Kelly an especially attractive option, with Newcastle needing to satisfy the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), as well as conduct significant incoming business. A goalkeeper is wanted — with talks having opened with Burnley for Trafford — while a right-sided forward and a striker are also being sought. Another defender may also be acquired.
(AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)