'100%' - Fabrizio Romano confirms Newcastle United's second summer signing as five-year deal agreed

Lloyd Kelly’s move to Newcastle United is “100% completed”, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 25-year-old has agreed a five-year contract, including an option of a further year, ahead of leaving AFC Bournemouth as a free agent on June 30.

Kelly underwent his medical in London on Wednesday afternoon and can now be considered as a Magpies player, Romano has claimed on X. He wont officially join until July 1 but can be unveiled before then.

The defender, capable of operation at centre-back or left-back, will become the club’s second summer signing after Lewis Hall, whose loan from Chelsea will become permanent for an initial £28million.

Kelly has previously attracted interest from a number of clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur. Bournemouth previously rejected a £20m bid from the North London outfit last summer.

European clubs Roma and Atletico Madrid have reportedly contacted Kelly’s representatives in recent weeks but the defender has opted to move to St James’ Park, where he will reunite with Eddie Howe. The pair are already familiar to each other after Howe signed Kelly for Bournemouth in 2019 in a £13m deal from Bristol City.

“I think he’s handled himself really well,” Howe said about Kelly in 2019. “He’s a very mature character for his age. He is someone who is quite a deep thinker about the game and very serious about his career. He is very driven to do well but in a really good way. 

“I think he can make a difference as well. I think he’s got real potential to go right to the top. “He is an unbelievable specimen physically. He’s got all the tools to be a real player at this level. It’s just a case that he is going to have to be patient to show that.”

During Kelly’s five years on the South Coast, he managed 141 appearances and was captain where they were promoted back to the Premier League in 2021-22.

Howe is currently without two central defenders, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles, until later this year because of ACL injuries. United had hoped Tosin Adarabioyo would join Kelly on Tyneside, however the former Manchester City youngster chose Chelsea instead.